AusBonsai

I have a specimen tree in Dayleford which i would love to I.D as it has the attributes of a very fine Bonsai. I have already done quite a bit of leg work including door knocking but it must be a holiday home as no one is ever there. I have ruled out any ash or Wisteria and Robinia does not come into it as autumn colour does not compute. Pistachio is also a non contender as the leaf is very different (unless it is a form i dont know of) The tree is 3-4 metres tall and blackish barked and forms natural graceful lines. The Autumn foliage is brilliant pink/crimson and, of course, the tree is deciduous. I am leaning toward "wax tree" which is under the category of Rhus as is my second leaning "chinese sumach" which is also in the rhus family. i am hoping someone has experience in these trees or the leaf in the picture. I have smeared a little juice on me and was slightly irritated and i hope it was not psychological.

Solved
By Bodhidharma - Japanese wax tree

Hi Bodhi , Try Ailanthus Altissima or Tree of Heaven . The leaf looks very similar .Cheers Alpine

Hey Bodhidharma,

If that is rhus, you are brave smeering some of that on your skin. I friend of mine was cutting branches back on her rhus and ended up in hospital. She had a nasty reaction just underneath the skin to the sap, causing lumps that oozed some sort of puss all up her arms

It looks like a nice tree, but be careful!

Hey Bodhi,

I would rule out Rhus & sumach as both have a single leaflet on the end where as you leaves have a pair.

It is most likely either Cedrela or Toona, tho I would favor Cedrela. The only thing that doesnt compute with either genus is the number of leaflets, both usually have far more per stalk... Having said that, with the extreme dry you have been having they will produce smaller leaves with fewer leaflets. My mame Toona usually only has 6 leaflets.

Matt

possibly black walnut

alpineart wrote:Hi Bodhi , Try Ailanthus Altissima or Tree of Heaven . The leaf looks very similar .Cheers Alpine

I know tree of heaven very well and this is not it. Thanks Alpine

Kyushu Danji wrote:Hey Bodhidharma,

If that is rhus, you are brave smeering some of that on your skin. I friend of mine was cutting branches back on her rhus and ended up in hospital. She had a nasty reaction just underneath the skin to the sap, causing lumps that oozed some sort of puss all up her arms

It looks like a nice tree, but be careful!

No probs K.D. Apparently it only affects some people and i am not one of them (i hope)

It is most likely either Cedrela or Toona, tho I would favor Cedrela.

From what I can see, they're the same. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toona_sinensis
The petioles seem too short to correspond to the ??? posted by Bodhi.
Black walnut comes a bit closer, but I can't find a single tree that has such very pointy leaflets, even ending in a curl.

good to know

Bodhi,

Have you ever seen it flower or produce seed???

LLK wrote:

It is most likely either Cedrela or Toona, tho I would favor Cedrela.

From what I can see, they're the same. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toona_sinensis
The petioles seem too short to correspond to the ??? posted by Bodhi.
Black walnut comes a bit closer, but I can't find a single tree that has such very pointy leaflets, even ending in a curl.

Hey Lisa,

They used to be one & the same, now they have been split into the 2 seperate genus. I get very confused with names & when they go changing them it makes it even worse

MattA wrote:My mame Toona usually only has 6 leaflets.

When trees are subjected to unfavorable conditions (eg drought) they adjust there natural form in many ways. We manipulate that in many of our bonsai workings...

Matt

Could it be Melia? Does it have a smell when you crush the leaves?

Damian Bee wrote: Could it be Melia? Does it have a smell when you crush the leaves?

No Damien, sad to say it is not

MattA wrote:Bodhi,

Have you ever seen it flower or produce seed???

No i havent guys but tomorrow i will take a photo of the whole tree.

nishiki3 wrote:possibly black walnut

It does not seem the same Nishiki .

I will hunt further and keep at the door knocking. I will watch the tree further for fruiting or flowering. The local Nursery man went for a look and said Pistachio but when we compared the two leaves they were very different albeit the same pattern. He thinks it might be a very old Pistachio but the tree is only 3-4 metres. I WILL FIND OUT