The tree in the photographs is in Dartford Central Park, Kent England. I wonder if it is a specimen tree as it stands alone with no others like it. I D please
This tree is very interesting. Yes, definitely a specimen. Very rare I think. I need expert help here...Daniel, Ron, Michael...HELP. I believe the tree is in Rosaceae .....Crataegus sp...but it is not one I have ever seen before. I think it may be Crataegus pinnatifida....see links below. Very little on www about it. Crataegus+pinnatifida big calyx - Google Search: Trees and Shrubs Online Crataegus pinnatifida - Wikipedia Crataegus pinnatifida - Useful Tropical Plants
@Richard E Masson, the size of the flower and the leaves can be so deceiving in pictures. Can you give the dimensions of each (for the benefit of whoever other than me will come up with the ID)? I was thinking the flowers were apple blossom size.
I am at home now and the tree is some distance away so I am not able to revisit it. I would estimate that the flowers are three times the size of apple blossom and the leaves twice the size of a typical Oak tree leaf. The flowers covered the tree, from top to bottom as the second photo indicates. The Park is a old established Park (over 110 years old) and this tree may have been planted as a specimen tree in the past.
Thank you Ron, I knew you would instantly know this. Thank goodness that at least I got the Rosaceae bit correct! Strange though as I am familiar with Sorbus torminalis ..wild service tree....and did consider it...but felt leaves on tree at Dartford Central Park, Kent England looked very different. Trees and Shrubs Online Sorbus torminalis - Wikipedia Service tree (Sorbus torminalis) - Woodland Trust Sorbus torminalis - Wild Service Tree (Rosaceae Images)
This does make me wonder, when accounts of Sorbus torminalis say the flowers are 1.5 cm (a half-inch) across. @Ron B replied before seeing this info from Richard. Other than that, I know nothing about this.
Interesting suggestion Lila. I have taken liberty of editing pics to try and get clear detail File:Malus trilobata leaves 01 by Line1.jpg - Wikimedia Commons Below is a leaf from our Malus trilobata.
Michael.....please can you just clarify...are you saying you think this tree is Eriolobus trilobatus syn Malus trilobata......or was it just a comment on the name change.
"Below is a leaf from our Malus trilobata." This is a juvenile leaf (from a juvenile tree), but check the leaf lobes, they are the same. I attached Richard's original picture (1) and some www. photos from Crataegus pinnatifida (2), Sorbus torminalis (3) and from Malus trilobata (4). Not just the size of the flowers are different, but Sorbus and Crataegus produced their flowers in corymbs (Corymb - Wikipedia), while this plant has no corymbs. (And the leaf lobes are also different.) Pics: Crataegus pinnatifida Big Golden Star (Óriástermésű galagonya) Sorbus torminalis virágzás, Budakeszi Herbárium | Nemzetközi Dendrológiai Dokumentációs Alapítvány https://www.gapphotos.com/imagedetails.asp?view=malus-trilobata-&imageno=229771
I'm convinced...Malus trilobata looks perfect. Many thanks for your clarification and sensible thinking.
Thank you for all for your help. If I am in Dartford in next few weeks or months I will call into the Park where the tree grows and photograph any fruits that have formed on the tree and upload them to this feed for interest.
Just a comment that some botanists think that this species is distinct enough from other Malus to be split out into a genus of its own.
After a year since the original posting here I am back in Central Park, Dartford, Kent England. Last year was hot and sunny whilst this year is cold and wet and about about 20 days further on in the year. Here are pictures of the developing fruit. Does this help ID?!
Yes: obviously it's the crabapple, just from the flowers alone - if these are the same pictures that were posted originally I don't know why I chose the Sorbus.
