AusBonsai

Hi

I'm new to this site, have found it very informative so far and was hoping someone might know what kind of tree this is. I came across it in a park near Kogarah, Sydney and thought it might make a nice bonsai since it has fairly small leaves. The fruit are about 2cm and smell very sweet.

Many thanks,

Alex

Identification solved

By jester

Afrocarpus Falcatus - Sickle-Leaved Yellowwood

Hi Alex and welcome to the site. I'm sure you will find it a valuable source of info and discover a lot of like minded people. Not sure I can help you with the ID - it's a bit hard to see - a neutral background would help, also a close up and a picture of the trees bark can help. Enjoy !


Tony

podocarpus?

The fruit look a bit like guava, but the leaves don't! Sorry I can't be more help.

Glenda

Jamie wrote:podocarpus?

Yep podocarpus; maybe the African one. Podocarpus falcatus or Outeniqua Yellowwood.

Grant

WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! im getting better at this identification stuff!!!!

podocarpus can make very, very nice trees, the only problem is you will need a lot of patience, they are quite slow to grow and develop.

Thanks very much for the help everyone.

I have never heard of a podocarpus before but should be fun trying to grow one even if it takes a while.

alexm wrote:Thanks very much for the help everyone.

I have never heard of a podocarpus before but should be fun trying to grow one even if it takes a while.

podocarpus have a few different common names a couple being plum pine and yew pine. good luck with them! look forward to seeing what you come up with, i have been wanting to try one for a long time but havent found a suitable sized one yet!

I didn't mean to stop it dead there.

It is just my opinion.

Grant

Hi Alex, 99.9% certain it is Afrocarpus Falcatus - Sickle-Leaved Yellowwood. The Afrocarpus used to be part of the Podocarpus family but was then separated under the nomenclature of names possibly to indicate that it originated in Africa. It lives as long as 600-700 years.

If there was a seed inside it and I'm right, the seed coat should be very hard and have raised "pimples" of which some will have a small pinhole at the top. (Refer picture) The seed should have one end that is sharper than the other to the point where if you press your finger onto it, it should hurt. The tree should have quite a thick trunk with a mottled texture (Refer picture). If you know which street it's in let me know I can go and check it out for you as I go there frequently. If this is the tree I think it is, you will be happy to know that I had started planting seeds last year as part of my horticulture certificate with some very interesting results. I will wait to hear from you.

Regards

John

The tree I saw was at the edge of the golf course near Targo Rd - are there others in the area?

I didn't get a close look at the trunk as it was starting to get dark - I will have to go on a long walk again sometime to have a closer look and see what other interesting trees are around.

The seeds look like the ones pictured - very sharp and prickly but a slightly lighter colour. They seem very woody so I'm guessing they might take a long time to germinate?

Thanks,
Alex

Hi Alex, they are difficult to germinate. If you wan to plant some, I strongly recommend you sand them back with sandpaper and on occasion , to a point where it pierces through. I had planted about 34 and only 1 germinated. Let me know how you go anyway.

John