What type of tree is this?

[ebauer]

Hi!
I'm new here, and I was wondering what type of tree this is? I've seen in in NYC and in stoneham - just outside of Boston,MA. I hope it should be evident from the pictures, but it has white fragrant flowers and from what I can recall green berries that we ate (the last time I ate them was as a child, but I think I found them smushed up against concrete last week.

Thanks,

-Eileen

[Allyn]

Stoneham! Woohoo! I lived in Stoneham, MA before I moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I sure do miss Boston.

I'm probably wrong, but it looks like a diamond-leaf oak.



https://www.rnr.lsu.edu/plantid/species/ ... eafoak.htm

[rainbowgardener]

Are those really all the same tree? The bottom picture looks nothing like the others.

[shadylane]

I agree rainbow, the third is a catalpa https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ ... rcode=a856

[rainbowgardener]

and I think the very bottom one is lilac.

[ebauer]

Are those really all the same tree? The bottom picture looks nothing like the others.

I could have messed up taking the pictures or posting them... there were several trees I was taking photos of at the time...

-Eileen

[ebauer]

I agree rainbow, the third is a catalpa https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ ... rcode=a856

but looking at this: It is native to a relatively small area extending from western Tennessee, northeastern Arkansas and the lowlands of southeastern Missouri north to southern Illinois and southern Indiana. it doesn't sound like it would be in nyc or stoneham?? and it doesn't mention anything berries, only seedpods?

oh... I see from https://www.milliontreesnyc.org/download ... ndbook.pdf that nyc does have catalpa but still, no berries. Could it be a variant of serviceberry?

-Eileen

[ebauer]

I agree rainbow, the third is a catalpa https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ ... rcode=a856

but looking at this: It is native to a relatively small area extending from western Tennessee, northeastern Arkansas and the lowlands of southeastern Missouri north to southern Illinois and southern Indiana. it doesn't sound like it would be in nyc or stoneham?? and it doesn't mention anything berries, only seedpods?

oh... I see from https://www.milliontreesnyc.org/download ... ndbook.pdf that nyc does have catalpa but still, no berries. Could it be a variant of serviceberry?

-Eileen

Could it be a variant of serviceberry?
Sadly, I checked yesterday and the flowers and fragrance is gone.

-Eileen

[shadylane]

Ebauer, catalpa's are through out the States northbound to south Canada.
Judging by your blooms of the Catalpa shown I eagerly answered. When you stated berries, you could have the Royal Paulownia Catalpa tree as shown in web site.
https://www.se-eppc.org/manual/princess.html

Judging from your photo given and a glimpse of bloom shown I had to say again Catalpa , 'bignonia' family. Here is a site I found, it is helpful in distinguishing the two. Perhaps when they come to seed you will notice the difference and post another picture. Not knowing your location, mine have already developed the long slender capsules.
By scrolling down this web site it will give you a clear picture...
https://bwwellsassociation.wordpress.co ... lake-area/

[rainbowgardener]

since you posted pictures of three or possibly even four different trees, I'm not even sure which one we are supposed to be identifying. I agree that the flower in the third picture down looks like a catalpa flower, and they are pretty distinctive.

Catalpas (in general, I'm not familiar with the Royal Paulownia mentioned) do not produce berries, they make long slender brown seed pods - hence their nickname "cigar tree."

But since you seem a bit confused about what is what, maybe the tree that had berries was not the same one that had the little white orchid like flowers? Did you get a picture of the berries?

[ebauer]

since you posted pictures of three or possibly even four different trees, I'm not even sure which one we are supposed to be identifying. I agree that the flower in the third picture down looks like a catalpa flower, and they are pretty distinctive.

Catalpas (in general, I'm not familiar with the Royal Paulownia mentioned) do not produce berries, they make long slender brown seed pods - hence their nickname "cigar tree."

But since you seem a bit confused about what is what, maybe the tree that had berries was not the same one that had the little white orchid like flowers? Did you get a picture of the berries?

It's very possible now that I think of it that the tree that had berries was not the same with the white flowers. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the berries, and now the flowers are gone and it seems the berries are gone. I think in a few days I'll have some more pictures.
Thank you everyone for your help. I didn't realize I the photos were of different type of trees.

Thanks again,

-Eileen