Yet another tree/shrub ID with pics

13 years ago

I have this little volunteer coming up next to an old stump. I thought it was an oak from the white oak family BUT it has thorns. Leaf length is about 2-3x the width. Thorns are fairly spaced out. Leafs also do not emerge like the other oaks we have around here. It lost a few leaves last summer during our bad drought and I thought it was going to die over winter. I thought it might be an osage orange but after a quick search that is a no go. Any thoughts?

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By jp_42_82 at 2011-04-29

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By jp_42_82 at 2011-04-29

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By jp_42_82 at 2011-04-29

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Comments (12)

j0nd03
Original Author
13 years ago
lol yeah there were two very large trees that were removed (dead) before our house was built. That stump isn't nothing compared to a couple of post oaks that are probably around 20+ feet in circumference. There is also a gigantic elm that was severely injured in an ice storm almost a decade ago and subsequently died (it looks like) about 3-6 years ago.
dsieber
13 years ago
Seriously big stump but maybe the unknown shrub/tree is just a seedling that found a good place to grow. Sorry I did not add any worthwhile info.
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Iris GW
13 years ago
If you are sure those are thorns, that will limit the possibilities. It is certainly not a Hawthorn (Crataegus), and I don't think it is Poncirus trifoliata (trifoliate orange) thank goodness, and doesn't look like Maclura pomifera (osage orange) either.

That might mean some sort of wild pear perhaps. The leaves look like they should be distinctive, but they are not ringing any bells for me.

There, I was not much help either!
j0nd03
Original Author
13 years ago
esh_ga: In the second pic halfway down the stem on the right side is an example of the thorns that are prominent on the plant. Thanks for taking a look.

dsieber: I already had every intention of keeping (at least while I can cut it down with pruners if needed) and your sarcastic "Get over it" was unnecessary and rude. You can keep your comments to yourself in any future topic(s) I create.

This is as educational topic for everyone. If it leaves esh_ga scratching his head then this should be interesting if anyone can nail it down.

Everyone: I also measured one of the large post oaks I mentioned earlier and it measured 44.5" at 4 feet above the ground. So maybe it is not quite the 20 feet in circumference I thought but it is still pretty darn big :)

I think I found the mother tree just before dark and it is in pretty bad shape. Unfortunately it is on my neighbors property and I don't want to trespass. They are never home to ask for permission. Maybe I can catch them this weekend and get pics of mature bark if it is indeed a match to my small example.
j0nd03
Original Author
13 years ago
44.5" diameter on the oak. I tried to get circumference but there were way too many poison ivy vines around to make it work by myself.
dricha
13 years ago
It may be a Gum Bumelia (Bumelia lanuginosa)
j0nd03
Original Author
13 years ago
That looks like a reasonable match dricha. Native range is also a match. There is not a whole lot of info or close up pics on Google for that one but the pics I saw seem to pretty close for the leaves and it also has thorns. I think mine is too young to flower but I will watch for blooms on the old "mother" tree if that does turn out to be a match.
Iris GW
13 years ago
Cool id!

Just a point to counter the "it's free, keep it" suggestion - unfortunately there are a great many invasive plants that seed into an area that are not worth keeping. Much better to identify it and then decide.

Plus, some of the rest of us got to learn about it too.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
12 years ago
That's kind of a cool tree. Attractive lvs, sweet fragrance, food and shelter for wildlife. I've never seen it (westerner).

Dan
tinaddl
12 years ago
Could it be some kind of quince?
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
12 years ago
Not a quince.
SammyG
12 years ago
It always cracks me up when someone tries to start drama on GardenWeb...
I guess everyone who asks a question and posts a "Tree ID" post should just "get over it" from now on? ;)

hehehe