Help identifying bonsai

Riquez · Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:34 am

Hi,

I'm totally new to bonsai - but it's great starting out & learning so much in just a few days. Hopefully, I can keep my tree alive & have years of pleasure from this.

My only problem is that I don't know what tree I have!!

Can anyone help me identify this tree?
Thank you so much,
Riquez
[img]https://www.d4damage.net/images/bonsai-tree.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.d4damage.net/images/bonsai-leaf.jpg[/img]

The Helpful Gardener · Tue Dec 06, 2005 4:28 pm

I am thinking Bahama berry (Nashia inaguensis), but I am still looking...

HG

Riquez · Thu Dec 08, 2005 5:08 am

Thanks - Certainly the leaves look similar, but after looking online ... I'm not sure.
The leaves on my tree have no smell, as suggested that the Bahama berry should and the configuration of the leaves seems quite different in the pictures I looked up.

If you have any further ideas please let me know.

Thanks for your advice
Riquez

The Helpful Gardener · Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:31 am

You are right, there is a very pronounced odor to that tree. Here's my second guess, not an regularly found tree in my neck of the woods, but certainly known in bonsai circles...

[url]https://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/pifl.htm[/url]

Texas ebony is a fairly common bonsai down south, so I'm guessing that's where you are from?

HG

Riquez · Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:00 am

At first glance that looks very promising - I'll do some more searching.
Thanks for your time!

I'm not from Texas though.. I live in Japan ...so fairly close to the home of Bonsai

The Helpful Gardener · Thu Dec 08, 2005 3:56 pm

Only off by half a planet!

I do think that one may be it, although your locale makes an Asian tree I am not familiar with a distinct possibility...

HG

bmbeyond · Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:31 pm

my first guess was texas ebony as well (I actually live in Texas ) until the close up pic of the leaves. Ebony leaves are not as leathery and are much more delicate than the leaves in the pic look. Ebony leaves are more similar to a Mimosa. I have no idea what your tree is unfortunatly but I do like it. Good luck.

The Helpful Gardener · Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:55 pm

The mystery deepens...

Scott

Riquez · Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:35 pm

Hi all,
Well I still don't know what the tree is, but it started flowering last week. The flowers are star shaped with 5 white petals.
Here is a pic, perhaps this will help someone identify it?
Any ideas?

thanks again,
Riquez

[img]https://www.d4damage.net/images/bonsai-flower.jpg[/img]

The Helpful Gardener · Sun Mar 26, 2006 4:15 pm

The flower rules out Texas Ebony and the leaf isn't right for Bahama berry. I will continue looking but I am, for the moment, stumped...

There goes my winning streak

Scott