Help Identify a Huge Tree
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mdvaden
Location: Oregon, Western
Posted: Oct-06-2004 at 8:28pm
I don't have all the info on a tree I want an ID for. It's not what I was hired to consult on, but since it was on the lot, and it's not a nursery tree in our area, I'd like to know.
It's in an old neighborhood of a one time farming community - Newberg, Oregon.
The tree must be old. It's huge and and branches like an old Oregon oak.
The trunk is about 5' to 6' in diameter, the tree is about 90 feet wide and about 75 feet tall.
I had walked right up and said "oh, I know this one, it's myrtle". But one look at the trunk told me there was no way. Myrtle is never that big here. The leaf fooled me. At first I thought it was identicle. But when crushed, there is no strong aroma. And no aroma really.
Also, myrtle has a bit of a round leaf tip, but this tree had a pointed tip. And the leaf is smaller, but otherwise looks almost just like myrtle leaves.
Now - a very different thing. Some of the leaves have wavy edges and pointed tips on lobes, almost exactly like an English holly only slightly narrower. Especially on a few limbs that were stubbed. And in several places. OTherwise, 99 percent of the leaves are narrow and pointed almost like myrtle lacking the blunt leaf tip of myrtle.
I've never seen it in winter, but I'm 99.9 percent certain it's going to be a broad leaf evergreen - just has that look to it.
The twig tips had little clusters of serveral pointed buds.
There were no pods, acorns or fruit on the ground today at this moment in time. I can't say for the rest of the year.
No pics, and no time to return there for a while.
WHAT WOULD YOU GUESS THIS TREE IS OR MAY BE?
Thanks.
M.D. Vaden
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Oct-06-2004 at 10:51pm
Starting with the assumption that it is in the genus Quercus for no better reason than your reference to it looking like an old Oregon oak, I came up with a possibility, Canyon liveoak. Here's a photo of its leaves from the OSU database site. Close? Or no cigar?
mdvaden
Location: Oregon, Western
Posted: Oct-06-2004 at 11:23pm
That looks very possible. The buds look identical as far as I can tell.
And maybe with the slightest variance of leaf width, I'd say those two types of leaves look like what this tree was wearing.
Thanks.
Kind of unique for a big tree to have leaves shaped two ways.
M.D. Vaden
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Oct-07-2004 at 8:59am
Good call, Lisa. That's interesting that it has two types of leaves. Do the leaves mature into one form or the other?
Jeanne
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Oct-07-2004 at 10:26am
Glad to help! I wouldn't be surprised if there are slight variations within the species to account for the differences you see in leaf shape, MD.
Good guess, Jeanne, regarding age of leaves and shape! While most sources I checked didn't give more information than to say that leaves could be either form and often on the same tree, I found the following information at USDA Forest Service: Fire Effects Information Service (3rd paragraph):
"Leaf margins are usually smooth or entire but may be spiny-toothed, particularly when young."
This sounds like an an awesome tree, especially one that size. I've heard people discuss them (on native plant lists, etc) but I don't recall ever seeing one at the usual suspect nurseries either. A quick check, though, finds it at Wallace W Hansen Native Plants of the Northwest (go about half way down).
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Oct-07-2004 at 2:03pm
Nice link, Lisa. I found it on Wallace Hansens' website also. I wouldn't mind the shrubby form but the large tree MD is talking about would definitely be too big!
Jeanne
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