Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

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The Munt
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Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by The Munt »

The process of air layering has intrigued me. I was thinking I might practice on this big guy to get a substantial branch cutting and try turn it into a Bonsai trunk just for practice and because the tree is in my yard.I’m just not certain what the tree is and whether it would be a good candidate for bonsai or even air layering for that matter:

The trunk:
B70EEB08-63D6-43B1-9F91-9F01A397E0BA.jpeg
The whole tree:
B637ABFE-6B94-4E33-9A45-CF0457340CD3.jpeg
New leaves:
3F18323B-152F-4456-BFBB-4D7AD82DA30D.jpeg
Established leaves, opposite and elliptic:
D672DB8F-579C-49DF-A7B2-88BB2018C385.jpeg
Definitely deciduous:
66B9553A-3F82-45E1-A865-E9C231CFF192.jpeg
The seed pod:
E9F5854A-2843-4241-A604-6121B935B315.jpeg
:lost:
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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by Timritchie »

Hi, your tree looks like a Fraxinus or English Ash. Yes you can make bonsai with them. Google for more information. Good luck with the air layering. Cheers Tim


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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by melbrackstone »

Not convinced it's an Ash, but can't offer any other options as yet....still looking.

Those leaves on the ground are probably because of all the rain....suspect your tree is Evergreen.
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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by Raging Bull »

I concur with Mel, I think the leaves look too leathery for an ash. The fruit doesn't look like from an ash either.
Sorry I can't help with what it actually is. :lost:
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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by melbrackstone »

If you don't mind, I'll share it on a plant identification site....hopefully it'll be identified pretty quickly with your photos.
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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by RogerW »

I think the tree is a Black Bean, Castenospermum australe, the sole species of a rainforest tree native to NSW, QLD and New Caledonia. I dont know how it would perform as a bonsai.

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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by melbrackstone »

I think the tree is a Black Bean, Castenospermum australe, the sole species of a rainforest tree native to NSW, QLD and New Caledonia. I dont know how it would perform as a bonsai.
That seems to be the response from my queries too. Castenospermum australe, although the pod looks a little small compared to the ones I've seen before. Open up that pod and you should get your answer. :)
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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by The Munt »

Thanks for this.

All the pods have opened and dropped seeds both on the ground and on the tree.

I can sort of see the resemblance when I google. Although in 5 years I’ve never seen those flowers on the tree.

This is the best I could find were some old rotting ones that still had a seed in.
2322300D-A4A6-40E8-8D52-F7784BDFC9C9.jpeg
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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by fae »

I have this tree growing in my side yard and I believe it is a Pittosporum undulate, common name Sweet Pittosporum.

It is a rainforest tree with a life expectancy of approx. 40 years.

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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by melbrackstone »

Although in 5 years I’ve never seen those flowers on the tree.
There's no doubt about it, the flowers are quite distinctive! The leaves certainly look like the black bean....

Take your air layer and see how it goes....nothing like getting experience!
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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by RogerW »

Definitely not a Pittosporum, they do not have these seed pods and are not in the Fabaceae or pea family.
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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by melbrackstone »

I've had another person suggest Schotia, which is also a possibility, although the leaves aren't quite right.

I think the only thing you can do to get a definitive answer is to wait until it flowers, Dan.
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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by dansai »

I don't think its Castenospermum australe. Seed pods of the Black Bean have seeds in a line close together, where this has 2 seeds in seperate compartments. Also the leaflets on the Black Bean are alternate, where this one they are opposite and the bark seems too dark. There are a lot of trees with compound leaves like this and as suggested you may have to wait for it to flower or have fresh seed pods.

As for a candidate for Bonsai, the compound leaves could make it difficult, although not impossible. Air layering may or not work either. Only way to find out is to give it a go.
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Re: Who’s this guy and would it be a good candidate?

Post by Beano »

This Flickr post implies it can have both types of seed pod.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tgerus/3060515987
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