help identifying tree with little data :-/

pbchu · Fri Feb 10, 2012 9:47 am

Hello, everyone. I was just north of New York City yesterday and came upon a large tree that was unfamiliar to me. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the tree itself, but it was fairly large (40 or 50 feet) and had reddish, thin bark. Here are some photos of the seeds that are still dangling on most branches. This bit was windfall. Does anyone know what tree it is? Thank you for searching your minds on my behalf. [img]https://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q625/pbchu/IMG_1756.jpg[/img]

applestar · Fri Feb 10, 2012 9:56 am

Fixed the image code for you so the photo is now displayed.
Unfortunately, I have no idea what this might be. Hopefully someone else will.

bullthistle · Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:19 pm

Sorry but you will need to get a photo of the tree and a branch with no seeds. I'd almost bet that it came from a shrub not a tree.

pbchu · Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:29 am

Actually, it was a pretty large, tall tree. The bark was reddish and thin. Almost certainly some sort of an import, but I'm hoping someone will recognize this cluster of dangling seeds. Most branches (all branches were WELL out of my reach) had these things on the end.
Thanks to the kindly person who fixed my photo image. Couldn't figure that out.

pbchu · Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:25 pm

Never say die! I went back to Hastings on Hudson, NY this week and snapped these photos of the mystery tree. Applestar, I may need help posting the photo correctly again, but here is my best effort.

https://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q625/pbchu/

Any ideas NOW? Thanks, everyone.

paula, Connecticut[/url]

rainbowgardener · Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:12 am

[img]https://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q625/pbchu/IMG_1763.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q625/pbchu/IMG_1761.jpg[/img]

Once you have them on photobucket, all you have to do is paste the IMG code in here

bullthistle · Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:00 pm

I believe it is a metasequoia-dawn redwood.

!potatoes! · Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:53 pm

huh. I was just noticing earlier today that sourwood tend to have very similar 'danglers' on the branch tips...but that's clearly not what this is. I'm with bullthistle on this - dawn redwood.

pbchu · Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:59 pm

Thank you so much for solving this mystery for me. Bullthistle, you rock.

WildcatNurseryman · Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:38 pm

Those are the pollen capsules, as the Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood is a deciduous conifer and produces seeds in a cone form.