Identifying trees

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by hrporter, May 29, 2006.

  1. hrporter

    hrporter Member

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    I would like to identify a flowering tree that is about to flower growing in Michigan Tree about to flower, white buds, close up.jpg
     
  2. Rima

    Rima Active Member

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    That looks suspiciously like a Fukien tea (Ehretia (or Carmona) microphylla), a tropical tree that would never be growing outdoors in MI! Is it in fact something you found in the ground, or in a pot?
     
  3. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Philadelphus lewisii (or a similar species) or mock-orange. For a Chinese relative comparison that shows both flower and bud, see Philadelphus delavayi
     
  4. Ginger Blue

    Ginger Blue Active Member

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    Hmm...I'm going to disagree. I think it's plain old Spirea vanhoutei.
     
  5. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Ah, you're right Ginger Blue (and I'm wrong) - Philadelphus only has 4 calyces for one, and doesn't have that kind of inflorescence for another.
     
  6. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    This shot was tricky, it does look like a mockorange. One with open flowers would have been better.

    If it had been a mockorange I think it would have been a different species, however, being in Michigan--unless able to grow in cultivation back there. Philadelphus lewisii does not range natively east of Montana.
     
  7. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    I was going off the leaf characteristics re: the species - I had found a Michigan site mentioning P. lewisii in cultivation. Ah well, I know better for next time.
     
  8. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Western mockorange leaf comes to a point at tip, plus margins do not have such forward-pointing teeth (lobes?)--looks more like a kite. And its leaves are opposite, of course.
     
  9. Ginger Blue

    Ginger Blue Active Member

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    Well, that, and in that part of the country right now, every third lawn has one getting ready to bloom. Often, knowing the location and time is as important as anything else in these IDs.
     

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