"Monster Tree" in Hilo, Hawaii

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by ceramik, Dec 5, 2015.

  1. ceramik

    ceramik Active Member

    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Toronto
    the owner's grandkids called this a monster tree because of the large adolescent leaves. The tree produces mature leaves that are compound. This is in a garden of exotic edibles - but I don't recall what part of this one is the edible bit...
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Daniel Mosquin

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

    Messages:
    10,611
    Likes Received:
    645
    Location:
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Sorry, I don't know -- would love to find out! Is this a public garden?
     
  3. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    4,020
    Likes Received:
    323
    Location:
    PERTHSHIRE. SCOTLAND.UK
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2015
  4. ceramik

    ceramik Active Member

    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Toronto
    The private garden is Chuck Martin's near Hilo. He's a collector of exotic edible plants, including trees, as well as exotic tropicals in general.
    If this remains a mystery, I should try to contact him and hope that he remembers it.

    This is not a graft. When we were incredulous, he was emphatic that these were indeed juvenile and mature foliage. I'll look into Ailanthus; but quite sure its not a Sassafras, which I would have remembered.
     
  5. Daniel Mosquin

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

    Messages:
    10,611
    Likes Received:
    645
    Location:
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    If you do contact Chuck, please ask if he is willing to entertain visitors on my behalf. I will be in his part of the world at the end of January.

    I've done more searching for this mystery, still no conclusions.
     
  6. ceramik

    ceramik Active Member

    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Toronto
    Daniel, I'll let you know. Bob
     
  7. Douglas Justice

    Douglas Justice Well-Known Member UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    984
    Likes Received:
    68
    Location:
    Vancouver, Canada
    The two images are of two different trees. The first is a fig (Moraceae) of some sort (note the warty stems, circular stipular scars and the calyptra covering the bud at the back). The second tree is definitely Fabaceae (note the pulvinus at the base of the compound leaf and the legumes).

     
  8. ceramik

    ceramik Active Member

    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Toronto
    Thank you Douglas. I have emailed the owner about this, asking about the identity and if I had gotten the story straight, but have yet to receive a reply.
     
  9. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,396
    Likes Received:
    844
    Location:
    Not here
    Yes, it was surprising that the fig-like sprig and the fruiting branches were from the same plant. One kind of tree have popped up inside the other, so that their branches were intermixed. With genuinely dimorphic trees and shrubs you should be seeing the two different types of growth directly connected to one another. For example the shrubby, unlobed and flowering adult phase of ivy (Hedera) coming out of the tops of the creeping and climbing, lobed-leaf sterile phase growths.
     
  10. ceramik

    ceramik Active Member

    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Toronto
    I managed to contact the owner and resolved this matter. The immature leaf is of the Marang (Artocarpus odoratissimus). The photo of the tree with its mature foliage actually has a vine growing in front of it (When he had pointed to the tree I mistakenly took the vine foliage to be the "mature" foliage.) I believe that the mature (unlobed) foliage can be seen behind and off to the side in the background. Mr. Martin mentioned that this species is supposed to produce the best flavored fruit of the breadfruit family.
     

Share This Page