AusBonsai

Hi all.
In general I e been pretty good with id of plants but I’ve moved near Yass now and although in my element ( the cold) I’m discovering lots of new plants I’m unfamiliar with.
I came across this one today which I suspect is crataegus but having not seen many I’m unsure. Does anyone know if I’m on the money and if yes is this a particularly desirable variety of it?

Cheers.
Squizzy

I think definitely Crataegus (with cherry slug leaf damage) and maybe monogyna.

Hi Squizzy, that's definitely crataegus. Like watto mentioned below it could just be monogyna as they are very common between Canberra Yass and Goulburn. I've been searching for oxycantha but haven't had any luck yet

Almost certainly Crataegus (hawthorn)
C. monogyna is very common as a weed species all along the cooler hill country of SE Aust but the berries on that one appear quite large (unless Squizzy has exceptionally petit fingers) so either it is European hawthorn doing very well or just possibly another sp or hybrid.

Whatever the ID all Crataegus sp should respond similar for bonsai purposes.

monogyna has only one seed in the fruit.

Dig it out and worry about the species later

Thanks everyone.

It’s a bit to big to dig out Greg. About 8 x 8 I’d say. Fruits are about 15mm diameter so they seem larger and a lot more orange than the ones in the paddocks along the highway?

8x8 was a stretch. Probably 6x6

Treeman. Having said monogyna is that a particularly desirable variety? If yes is it best to produce more by seed or by softwood cutting or hardwood cutting on heat now? Air layered isn’t an option.
Cheers. Squizzy

squizzy wrote: ↑April 29th, 2022, 2:00 pm Treeman. Having said monogyna is that a particularly desirable variety? If yes is it best to produce more by seed or by softwood cutting or hardwood cutting on heat now? Air layered isn’t an option.
Cheers. Squizzy

Personally i wouldn't waste my time growing monogyna from seed. They grow everywhere around your area mate. You could dig one out with decent size and age. Cbs has a dig on later this year, come along and I'll show you the good trees

Might be keen on that keels but nothing wrong with thinking something more shohin from seed.

Squizzy

I've grown seed a few times but found them slow to grow and thicken.
So many in the bush, along the creek and on vacant land as weeds down here (and up there) it makes much more sense to grab something that's already a couple of years old. Most are tall and straight but if I look hard enough in the right places I can find small, twisted trunks, sometimes even with some taper.
I've never managed to strike a cutting but root cuttings do strike quite easily. Root cuttings give the opportunity to get some bends and twists in small trunks.

You are not far from Canberra and the tree appears to be an older garden specimen which opens up another possibility for ID:

Crataegus × smithiana, or perhaps more correctly Crataegus 'Smithiana', is a hybrid hawthorn commonly known as red Mexican hawthorn. The hybrid is said to have originated at the Yarralumla Nursery in Canberra, Australia. This tree has been planted along several streets in Canberra.

Not sure whether this hybrid also has the single seed or not but I know it does have larger berries as shown.

Thanks so much Neil
Excellent advice and knowledge as you always provide. Yes I suspect it’s a hybrid of the standard ones. It’s definitely a substantially bigger fruit. Would love to layer off it but might have to try cuttings. Not sure the owner would appreciate me digging up the lawn?
Squizzy

Let us know how you go with cuttings. I've never managed to strike hawthorn but I have not tried that hybrid. If Yarralumla was able to propagate enough for Canberra street plantings it must be possible - somehow.