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  • Bhutan Pine Pinus wallichiana (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 35m  <br />
Narrowly columnar, becoming shapeless with age. BARK Greyish brown and resinous. BRANCHES Lower ones spreading, upper ones ascending. LEAVES Needles, to 20cm long and 7mm wide, supple with finely toothed margin. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Cones long, cylindrical, to 25cm long, growing below shoot, light-brown and resinous. Cone scales wedge-shaped and grooved, thickened at tip. Basal scales are sometimes reflexed. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to Himalayas, planted here for ornament.
    134690.jpg
  • Bhutan Pine Pinus wallichiana (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 35m  <br />
Narrowly columnar, becoming shapeless with age. BARK Greyish brown and resinous. BRANCHES Lower ones spreading, upper ones ascending. LEAVES Needles, to 20cm long and 7mm wide, supple with finely toothed margin. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Cones long, cylindrical, to 25cm long, growing below shoot, light-brown and resinous. Cone scales wedge-shaped and grooved, thickened at tip. Basal scales are sometimes reflexed. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to Himalayas, planted here for ornament.
    134687.jpg
  • Green Alder Alnus viridis (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 5m <br />
Rarely more than a large shrub or small tree. BARK Brown. BRANCHES With mostly smooth, greenish twigs and pointed, sessile, shiny-red buds. LEAVES More pointed than those of Common Alder and sharply toothed, hairy on the midrib and in the joins of the veins on the underside. When first open they are sticky to the touch. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male catkins, appearing with the leaves, are up to 12cm, yellow and pendulous; female catkins are 1cm long, erect and greenish at first, becoming reddish later, and usually found in stalked clusters of 3–5. The cone-like ripe catkins are rounded, green and tough at first, becoming blackened later and persisting until the following spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of the mountains of central and E Europe, planted here for ornament.
    132938.jpg
  • Bhutan Pine Pinus wallichiana (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 35m  <br />
Narrowly columnar, becoming shapeless with age. BARK Greyish brown and resinous. BRANCHES Lower ones spreading, upper ones ascending. LEAVES Needles, to 20cm long and 7mm wide, supple with finely toothed margin. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Cones long, cylindrical, to 25cm long, growing below shoot, light-brown and resinous. Cone scales wedge-shaped and grooved, thickened at tip. Basal scales are sometimes reflexed. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to Himalayas, planted here for ornament.
    132458.jpg
  • European Hop-Hornbeam Ostrya carpinifolia (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 19m. A spreading tree with a domed crown and robust bole. BARK Grey-brown, with squarish plates. BRANCHES Almost level when growing in the open but in a woodland the branches may be crowded and ascending. LEAVES Similar to Hornbeam. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits in clusters with a superficial resemblance to bunches of hops. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of mainland Europe; in Britain it occurs mainly in well-established gardens.
    133524.jpg
  • Western Himalayan (Bhutan) Cypress Cupressus torulosa (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 27m <br />
Ovoid crown recalls C. glabra but tree has more open habit. Slender green shoots smell of new-mown grass when crushed. BARK Spirally ridged in older trees. BRANCHES Raised, with descending sprays of looser foliage. LEAVES Tiny, scale-like and unmarked, with minute, incurved points. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Cones are less than 15mm across, each scale with a rounded knob. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to W Himalayas, grown in a few old, British gardens. COMMENTS Slow-growing.
    132996.jpg
  • Bhutan Pine Pinus wallichiana (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 35m  <br />
Narrowly columnar, becoming shapeless with age. BARK Greyish brown and resinous. BRANCHES Lower ones spreading, upper ones ascending. LEAVES Needles, to 20cm long and 7mm wide, supple with finely toothed margin. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Cones long, cylindrical, to 25cm long, growing below shoot, light-brown and resinous. Cone scales wedge-shaped and grooved, thickened at tip. Basal scales are sometimes reflexed. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to Himalayas, planted here for ornament.
    132627.jpg
  • Blue Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica var. glauca, most frequent cultivar of Atlas Cedar C. atlantica. , with bright bluish-grey foliage; hardy, tolerates atmospheric pollution.
    134566.jpg
  • Blue Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica var. glauca, most frequent cultivar of Atlas Cedar C. atlantica. , with bright bluish-grey foliage; hardy, tolerates atmospheric pollution.
    134507.jpg
  • Common Toad Bufo bufo Length 5-9cm A widespread toad; the only common species in Britain. Skin is covered in toxin-containing warts. Spawn is laid in double-rowed spawn strings. Gait consists of short hops. Adult is olive-brown to greenish buff (hue is influenced by ambient light). Has red iris and webbed hind feet. Female is larger than male. Juvenile recalls a tiny, large-headed adult. Courting male utters croaking calls in spring. More terrestrial than most other amphibians and adults spend much of their lives on land:  woodland, scrub, grassland and moors are favoured. Must return to water to breed and most are found within 2km or so of suitable ponds. Not deterred by fish: tadpole’ toxic skin acts as deterrent to predation. Observation tips Courting is easy to watch in suitable ponds in spring (February-March are typical months). Sometimes found hibernating under logs in winter.
    144138.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    144141.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    144145.jpg
  • Coal Tit Parus ater L 10-11cm. Tiny, well-marked and warbler-like bird. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks and white nape patch on otherwise black head. Back and wings are bluish grey and underparts are pale pinkish buff. Note two white wingbars and dark, needle-like bill. Juvenile is similar but colours and markings are less striking. Voice Utters a thin call. Song is repeated teechu-teechu-teechu…, higher pitched and more rapid than Great Tit.<br />
Status Fairly common resident of conifer forests and mixed and deciduous woodland.
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  • Micrommata virescens. Mating pair showing male palpal bulb expanding as sperm on pumped from the palp to the female's epigyne
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  • Lapwing Vanellus vanellus L 30cm. Pied-looking wader with a spiky crest. Has rounded, black and white wings and distinctive call. Sexes are separable in summer. Adult male in summer has green- and purple-sheened dark upperparts; underparts are white except for orange vent and black foreneck. Note black and white markings on throat. Adult female in summer has less distinct black neck markings and shorter crest. Winter adult is similar to summer female but throat and foreneck are white, and back feathers have buffish fringes. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but crest is short and back looks scaly. Voice Utters a choked pee-wit call. Status Fairly common nesting species of undisturbed grazed grassland, moors and arable farmland; numbers have declined seriously. Migrants from Europe boost numbers in winter.
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  • Beadlet Anemone - Actinia equina - giving birth
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  • ALPINE BISTORT Persicaria vivipara (Polygonaceae) Height to 30cm. Upright, unbranched perennial of upland and northern grassland. FLOWERS are borne in terminal spikes; upper ones are pale pink, lower ones are reddish brown bulbils (a means of vegetative reproduction) (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are nut-like. LEAVES are narrow and grass-like, the margins inrolled. STATUS-Locally common from N Wales northwards.
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  • Nereis Sp. - free-swimming reproductive stage or epitoke
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  • Holly Ilex aquifolium Aquifoliaceae Height to 15m <br />
Distinctive evergreen. Bark Silver-grey, fissured with age. Branches Sweep downwards but tips turn up. Leaves To 12cm long, leathery, variably wavy with spiny margins. Reproductive parts White flowers, 6mm across, 4-petalled, clustered in leaf axils; males and females grow on different trees. Fruits are red berries. Status Common native in woods and hedgerows.
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  • Turkey Oak - Quercus cerris (Fagaceae) HEIGHT to 38m <br />
Deciduous, broadly conical oak, becoming more spreading and domed with age. BARK Thick, grey-brown, becoming fissured and forming regular, squarish plates in older trees. BRANCHES Appear swollen near base and spread upwards. Buds are covered with long hairs. LEAVES To 10–12cm long, deeply lobed with up to 10 lobes or large teeth, on 1–2cm-long, slightly downy petioles. Upper leaf surface feels rough and is deep green, lower surface is downy when new and greyish. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins appear in May–June. Acorns ripen in late summer and are partly encased in a deep cup covered in long outward-pointing scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of S Europe, introduced into Britain by J. Lucombe of Exeter in 1735; now widely planted in parks and gardens and sometimes occurring in woodlands.
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  • Osier - Salix viminalis (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m. Spreading shrub or small tree. Rarely reaches full potential, being regularly cropped for long flexible twigs (‘withies’), used for weaving. Natural crown is narrow with slightly pendulous branches. SHOOTS Straight twigs are flexible, covered with greyish hairs when young, becoming smoother and shiny olive-brown with age. LEAVES Narrow, tapering, to 15cm long, the margin usually waved and rolled under; underside has grey woolly hairs. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male and female catkins, to 3cm long, appear before leaves on separate trees; erect or slightly curved. Males are yellow, females browner. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Common native tree in wet habitats. Often planted for withies, masking its true native range.
    157544.jpg
  • Hazel - Corylus avellana Betulaceae Height to 6m<br />
Multi-stemmed shrub, or short tree. Bark Smooth, shiny, peeling into papery strips. Branches Upright to spreading. Twigs with stiff hairs, buds oval and smooth. Leaves Rounded, to 10cm long, hairy above; heart-shaped base and pointed tip. Margins double-toothed. Reproductive parts Male catkins to 8cm long, pendulous and yellow. Female flowers red and tiny; produce hard-shelled nuts. Status Common, often coppiced.
    157533.jpg
  • Small-leaved Elm - Ulmus minor ssp. minor (Ulmaceae) HEIGHT to 32m. Domed and spreading tree. BARK Greyish brown, scaly and ridged. BRANCHES Usually ascending, often with pendulous masses of shoots. LEAVES Superficially hornbeam-like, leathery, to 15cm long, oval, pointed at tip, with toothed margins; unequal leaf bases, narrowly tapering on short side, and a short petiole. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits are papery. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to S and SE England; once widespread but range and abundance badly affected by Dutch Elm Disease. The ssp. minor includes trees previously (and sometimes still) known as Smooth-leaved Elm.
    157529.jpg
  • Norway Maple - Acer platanoides Aceraceae. Height to 30m. Spreading deciduous tree. Bark Smooth, grey, ridged. Branches Less crowded than Sycamore; twigs green, often tinged red. Leaves To 15cm long with 5–7 toothed and sharply pointed lobes. Reproductive parts Greenish flowers, in erect clusters of 30–40. Paired wings of fruits spread almost horizontally. Status Introduced, widely planted and naturalised.
    157525.jpg
  • Bay Willow - Salix pentandra (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 18m <br />
Broadly domed, open-crowned tree when growing in its typical open streamside habitat, but more slender and upright in woodlands. SHOOTS Olive-green and glossy. LEAVES Glossy green, showing a bluish tint beneath. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS In contrast to other willows, the bright-yellow upright male catkins appear at same time as new growth of leaves, rather than just before them. Female catkins are dull yellowish-green, longer and more pendulous. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A fairly common native of moorlands, streamsides and boggy areas, and also in damp, upland woods in north of region. Only very occasionally planted as an ornamental tree.
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  • Alder Carr - Alnus glutinosa Betulaceae Height to 25m. Spreading, often multi-stemmed tree. Bark Brownish, fissured into squarish plates. Branches Ascending in young trees. Young twigs sticky. Buds 7mm long, on 3mm-long stalks. Leaves Stalked, to 10cm long, rounded with notched apex. Reproductive parts Purplish male catkins, in bunches of 2–3, appear first in winter. Female catkins cone-like, reddish at first ripening green by summer. Status Common beside water.
    157449.jpg
  • Black Walnut - Juglans nigra (Juglandaceae) HEIGHT to 32m<br />
Has a tall, straight bole and domed crown of brighter green leaves than Common Walnut. BARK Dark brown, showing a diamond pattern of deep cracks. LEAVES Compound with 15-23 leaflets, finely toothed and downy below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits similar to Common Walnut but not as edible; green husk yields a similar dark dye. Native of USA, planted here occasionally.
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  • European Larch - Larix decidua Pinaceae. Height to 35m<br />
Deciduous, conical conifer. Foliage turns golden before needles fall in autumn. Bark Greyish-brown, fissured with age. Branches Mostly horizontal. Needles To 3cm long, in bunches of up to 40. Reproductive parts Male flowers are yellow cones. Female cones are red in spring, maturing brown and woody. Status Native of central Europe, planted here for timber and ornament.
    157445.jpg
  • White Poplar - Populus alba Salicaceae Height to 20m <br />
Elegant, open tree. Bark Pale with diamond-shaped scars. Shoots With white felt in spring. Leaves Lobed, grey-green above, dense white felt below. Reproductive parts Male catkins ovoid, white and fluffy; female catkins slender and greenish. Status Long-established introduction.
    157432.jpg
  • Small-leaved Lime Tilia cordata Tiliaceae Height to 32m<br />
Deciduous tree; dense crown, untidy with age. Bark Smooth, grey; darkens and flakes with age. Branches Ascending; twigs reddish above, olive below. Leaves To 9cm long, rounded with heart-shaped base; vein axils hairy below. Reproductive parts Flowers 5-petalled, pale with green bract; project in all directions. Fruit round, hard, 6mm across. Status Local.
    118384.jpg
  • Grey Poplar Populus x canescens (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 37m. Stable hybrid between White Poplar and Aspen. When fully mature, grows into an impressively large tree with a good solid bole. In spring the tree has a whitish appearance when the wind displaces the leaves, but it is not as brilliantly white as the White Poplar. BARK Whitish with diamond-shaped fissures. LEAVES Rounded to oval and toothed with regular blunt, forward-pointing teeth; borne on long petioles. Leaf upper surface is glossy grey-green and lower surface is covered with a greyish-white felt. By mid- to late summer the leaves lose some of the white felt and the tree looks greyer. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male and female catkins are borne on separate trees. Fe¬male trees with green, pendulous catkins are rare. Male catkins are elongated and pendulous, giving whole tree a purplish col¬our when they swell before opening in spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of mainland Europe and introduced into Britain very early, probably with the White Poplar.
    133949.jpg
  • Sargent’s Rowan Sorbus sargentina Sargent’s Rowan Sorbus sargentiana 10m. Small, often much-branched tree. LEAVES Pinnate, with 4–5 pairs of 5cm-long, sharply toothed leaflets, hairy below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits bright-red. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Discovered in W China by Charles Sargent. Popular here for its fiery-red autumn colours.
    134384.jpg
  • Katsura Tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Cercidiphyllaceae) HEIGHT to 25m. Conical-crowned deciduous tree, sometimes with a single bole, more often with several main stems. BARK vertically fissured and peeling. LEAVES In opposite pairs, to 8cm long, rounded, with pointed tips and heart-shaped bases. Pink at first, turning green in summer, then red in autumn. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are produced in leaf nodes in April. Male flowers are small clusters of reddish stamens, female flowers are darker-red clusters of styles. Fruits are claw-like bunches of 5cm-long pods which change from grey, through green, to brown. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, grown in Britain and Ireland for ornament.
    134336.jpg
  • Sugar Maple Acer saccharum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 26m <br />
Similar to Norway Maple. BARK Has large fissures and falls away in shreds in older trees. BRANCHES Upright to spreading. LEAVES 13cm-long leaves are lobed, but teeth on lobes are rounded, not drawn out into a fine point as in Norway Maple; there are hairs in vein axils below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Pendulous yellow-green flowers are small and lack petals; open in spring with leaves. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of E North America, planted here for its autumn colours.
    134188.jpg
  • White Mulberry Morus alba (Moraceae) HEIGHT to 15m<br />
 Deciduous tree with a narrow rounded crown on a broad bole, to 2m across. BARK Heavily ridged and grey, sometimes tinged pinkish. BRANCHES Shoots are thin, with fine hairs at first; buds are minute, brown and pointed. LEAVES To 18cm long, oval to rounded with a heart-shaped base and a hairy, grooved petiole up to 2.5cm long. Feel thin and smooth, and have a toothed margin, with downy hairs on veins on underside. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Female flowers stalked, spike-like and yellowish. Male flowers on slightly longer spikes; whitish with prominent anthers. Fruit comprises a cluster of drupes; white or pink at first, ripening purple. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of E Asia, grown here occasionally. COMMENT The leaves are the foodplant for silkworms.
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  • Big Belly Oak in Savernake Forest, Marlborough, Wiltshire one of our more noteable ancient trees believed to be over 1,000 years old. Pedunculate or English Oak Quercus robur Fagaceae Height to 36m. Spreading, deciduous tree with dense crown. Bark Grey, thick and fissured with age. Branches Dead branches emerge from canopy of ancient trees. Buds hairless. Leaves Deeply lobed with 2 auricles at base; on very short stalks (5mm or less). Reproductive parts Flowers are catkins. Acorns, in groups of 1–3, with long stalks and scaly cups. Status Widespread; prefers heavier clay soils to Sessile Oak.
    144722.jpg
  • Pedunculate or English Oak Quercus robur Fagaceae Height to 36m. Spreading, deciduous tree with dense crown. Bark Grey, thick and fissured with age. Branches Dead branches emerge from canopy of ancient trees. Buds hairless. Leaves Deeply lobed with 2 auricles at base; on very short stalks (5mm or less). Reproductive parts Flowers are catkins. Acorns, in groups of 1–3, with long stalks and scaly cups. Status Widespread; prefers heavier clay soils to Sessile Oak.
    144534.jpg
  • Sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides (Eleagnaceae) HEIGHT to 11m. Multi-stemmed shrub or suckering small tree. BARK Fissured, peeling; thorny twigs covered with silvery scales that rub off. LEAVES To 6cm long and 1cm wide, with silvery scales. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers, to 3mm across, lack petals, open in March or April. Male and female flowers on different trees. Fruits are bright orange berries, up to 8mm long. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Europe, including coastal E England; planted elsewhere to stabilise dunes, also inland for ornament.
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  • Sessile Oak Quercus petraea Fagaceae Height to 40m<br />
Sturdy, domed deciduous tree. Bark Grey-brown, fissured. Branches Rather straight and radiating. Buds have long white hairs. Leaves Lobed, dark green with hairs below on veins; on yellow stalks, 1–2.5cm long, and lacking basal auricles. Reproductive parts Flowers are catkins. Acorns egg-shaped, stalkless; sit directly on twig in small clusters. Status Common in W and hilly areas on poor soils.
    144518.jpg
  • Common Larch Larix decidua Pinaceae Height to 35m<br />
Deciduous, conical conifer. Foliage turns golden before needles fall in autumn. Bark Greyish-brown, fissured with age. Branches Mostly horizontal. Needles To 3cm long, in bunches of up to 40. Reproductive parts Male flowers are yellow cones. Female cones are red in spring, maturing brown and woody. Status Native of central Europe, planted here for timber and ornament.
    144444.jpg
  • Common Larch Larix decidua Pinaceae Height to 35m<br />
Deciduous, conical conifer. Foliage turns golden before needles fall in autumn. Bark Greyish-brown, fissured with age. Branches Mostly horizontal. Needles To 3cm long, in bunches of up to 40. Reproductive parts Male flowers are yellow cones. Female cones are red in spring, maturing brown and woody. Status Native of central Europe, planted here for timber and ornament.
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  • Beech Fagus sylvatica Fagaceae Height to 40m. Imposing deciduous tree with domed crown. Bark Smooth and grey. Branches Ascending. Buds reddish, to 2cm long, smooth and pointed. Leaves To 10cm long, oval, pointed, with wavy margin. Reproductive parts Male flowers pendent, clustered. Female flowers paired with brownish bracts. Fruits are shiny 3-sided nuts, to 1.8cm long, enclosed in a prickly case. Status Common native in S England; widely planted elsewhere.
    144422.jpg
  • Alder Buckthorn Frangula alnus (Rhamnaceae) HEIGHT to 5m. A small tree with a broadly spreading or sometimes sprawling habit. BARK Smooth, grey and vertically furrowed bark. BRANCHES The twigs have numerous small fine hairs and are green at first, becoming grey-brown later, and are opposite, like the branches. LEAVES Opposite, up to 7cm long, broadly ovate with entire margins and a short-pointed tip. There are up to 9 pairs of veins on the leaf; these curve towards the margin. The leaves are glossy-green above and paler below, turning a clear lemon-yellow in autumn, or redder if exposed to bright sunlight. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The greenish-white 5-petalled flowers are very small and inconspicuous, rarely more than 3mm across; they grow in small axillary clusters and open in May or June, sometimes later. The berry-like fruits are up to 10mm in diameter and ripen from pale green through yellow to red and finally black. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of much of Europe, apart from far north and drier parts of Mediterranean region. In our region it is found, as a native species, mainly in central and southern England and south Wales; it is scarce in Ireland and absent from Scotland. Alder Buckthorn grows mainly in marshy woodlands and on acidic soils.
    143678.jpg
  • Blackthorn Prunus spinosa Rosaceae Height to 6m <br />
Densely branched shrub. Bark Blackish-brown. Branches Spreading, with spiny twigs. Leaves Ovate, toothed, to 4.5cm long. Reproductive parts Flowers white, 5-petalled, to 17mm across; produced prolifically (Feb-Mar). Fruits (Sloes) to 1.5cm long, ovoid, blue-black with a bloom. Status Common.
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  • Common Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Rosaceae Height to 15m Spreading deciduous tree or shrub. Bark Fissured with vertical grooves. Branches Densely packed, with sharp spines. Leaves To 4.5cm long, deeply lobed, with teeth near apex. Reproductive parts Flowers white, 15mm across, in flat-topped clusters of 10–18 (May). Fruits (‘haws’) rounded and red. Status Common native of hedgerows and scrub, especially on chalk.
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  • Wild Cherry Prunus avium Rosaceae Height to 30m <br />
Deciduous tree with domed crown. Bark Reddish-brown, shiny, with circular lines; peels horizontally into papery strips. Branches Spreading with reddish twigs. Leaves To 15cm long, ovate, toothed. Reproductive parts Flowers white, 5-petalled, in clusters of 2–6. Fruits to 2cm long, rounded, ripening dark-purple, sometimes yellowish. Status Widespread native.
    135458.jpg
  • Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo (Ericaceae) Height to 9m <br />
Small, spreading evergreen tree with a short bole and a dense, domed crown. BARK Reddish, peeling away in shreds that turn brown. BRANCHES Often ascending and twisted; twigs slightly hairy and reddish. LEAVES To 11cm long, with either sharply toothed or entire margins, and a prominent midrib. Dark glossy-green above, paler below; 1cm-long petiole is usually red and hairy. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers borne in pendulous clusters late in year at same time as fruits from previous year; flowers white, to 9mm long, and sometimes tinged pink or green. Fruit is a round berry, to 2cm across; warty skin ripens from yellow through orange to deep red; flesh is acidic. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Main native range is SW Europe and Mediterranean; also occurs naturally in SW Ireland in open woods and thickets. Planted widely elsewhere.
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  • Arran Service-tree Sorbus pseudofennica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 7m. An upright tree (treated as a ‘microspecies of Bastard Service-tree S. x thuringiaca by some ). LEAVES Pinnately divided with 7-9 pairs of veins; proximal 1-2 pairs of leaflets are free. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits are scarlet, to 12mm long, with few lenticels. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION More-or-less restricted to a single site on Arran, growing on granite, with a population of around just 400 plants.
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  • Sweet Gum Liquidamber styraciflua (Hamamelidaceae) HEIGHT to 28m. A large tree with attractive foliage. BARK Greyish brown with scaly ridges. BRANCHES Twisting and spreading to upcurved. LEAVES Sharply lobed with a toothed margin. They are alternate and give off a resinous scent when crushed, unlike maple leaves, which they resemble. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The flowers are globose; fruits are spiny and pendulous, 2.5– 4cm across, resembling those of a Plane. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A widespread and common native tree of the south-eastern USA as far south as Central America. Familiar here as a colourful autumn tree in many parks and gardens.
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  • Sweet Gum Liquidamber styraciflua (Hamamelidaceae) HEIGHT to 28m. A large tree with attractive foliage. BARK Greyish brown with scaly ridges. BRANCHES Twisting and spreading to upcurved. LEAVES Sharply lobed with a toothed margin. They are alternate and give off a resinous scent when crushed, unlike maple leaves, which they resemble. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The flowers are globose; fruits are spiny and pendulous, 2.5– 4cm across, resembling those of a Plane. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A widespread and common native tree of the south-eastern USA as far south as Central America. Familiar here as a colourful autumn tree in many parks and gardens.
    135422.jpg
  • Mirbeck’s Oak Quercus canariensis (Fagaceae) HEIGHT to 25m. Domed, columnar tree. BARK Thick, dark-grey and furrowed. LEAVES Ovate to elliptic, to 15cm long, up to 12 lobes. Young leaves hairy and reddish, maturing darker green and smooth. Some turn yellow and fall in autumn, others remain through winter. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male catkins yellowish-green and pendulous; female catkins are small. Acorns, to 2.5cm long, ovate, one-third hidden in scaly cup. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native N Africa and SW Europe, planted here occasionally.
    135225.jpg
  • Caucasian Wingnut Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Juglandaceae) HEIGHT to 35m. Spreading tree with domed crown and stout bole from which many branches arise close to same point. Suckers freely. BARK Grey, fissured and gnarled. LEAVES Compound, with 11–20 pairs of leaflets, each to 18cm long, ovate to lanceolate with a pointed tip and toothed margins. Midribs bear stellate hairs on underside. Leaves turn yellow in autumn. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male catkins solitary, female catkins pendent with many flowers and give rise to broad-winged nutlets. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SW Asia, planted here for ornament.
    135175.jpg
  • Quince Cydonia oblonga (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 7.5m <br />
Small, irregularly spreading, deciduous tree with a flattened crown. BARK Greyish brown. BRANCHES Dense. The shoots are noticeably woolly at first, but lose this as they become older. LEAVES Up to 10cm long with entire margins; the upper surface is green and mostly smooth, and the lower surface is greyer and markedly downy. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Attractive pink-tinged white flowers, which are at their best in April–May, are up to 5cm in diameter and bowl-shaped, containing yellowish anthers and stigmas. Fruit is up to 3.5cm long, resembling a small pear, greenish at first and becoming golden-yellow when mature with a pleasing fragrance. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SW Asia, but long cultivated elsewhere, including in our region, for its fruits.
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  • Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 40m <br />
Broadly conical or pyramidal tree, domed when mature. Leading shoot usually rises above domed top. BARK Dark grey, cracking into large plates with deep fissures. BRANCHES Tips angled upwards. Shoots short and ascending. LEAVES shiny deep green 1-3cm long and in clusters. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male cones 3–5cm long, pinkish-yellow. Ripe female cones are squat, with a sunken tip and small central boss; to 8cm long and 5cm across. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Atlas Mountains of N Africa; widely planted for ornament.
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  • Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Aceraceae Height to 35m <br />
Vigorous, spreading deciduous tree. Bark Greyish, fissured and flaking. Branches Thick, with grey-green twigs and reddish buds. Leaves To 15cm long, with 5 toothed lobes. Reproductive parts Flowers in pendulous, yellow clusters, to 12cm long. Paired wings of fruits spread acutely, curve in slightly towards tip. Status Introduced, widely planted and naturalised.
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  • Cork Oak Quercus suber (Fagaceae) HEIGHT to 17m<br />
Medium-sized evergreen oak forming a rounded tree. BARK Thick, pale greyish-brown with deep fissures and ridges if left to mature, and a soft corky texture. BRANCHES Numerous, large and twisted, arising low down on bole; in very old trees some branches may trail on ground. LEAVES Resemble holly leaves, with spiny tips to shallow lobes; to 7cm long, on 1cm petioles. Mature leaves are dark green and smooth above, but paler, almost grey and downy below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Acorns are 2–3cm long, egg-shaped, and borne in cups covered with long projecting scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Mediterranean region, introduced here and grown for ornament as far north as Scotland
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  • Engelmann’s Spruce Picea engelmannii (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m. Slender, conical evergreen. Trunk thin and narrowly tapering. BARK Greyish pink and scaly. BRANCHES Ascending and turning upwards at tips, with pendulous young shoots. LEAVES Pointed, 4-angled, bluish-green needles, to 2.5cm long, spread to reveal twig’s lower surface but hide upper surface; smell is unpleasant when crushed. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Narrowly oval cones, tapering to a point, to 7cm long, ripening brownish, with squarish toothed scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Rocky Mountains in N America. Planted here, but scarce.
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  • Japanese Thuja Thuja standishii (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 22m. Broadly conical tree. BARK Reddish-brown, peeling in strips or broader flakes. BRANCHES U-shaped with pendent grey-green shoot-tips. LEAVES Tiny, scale-like on flattened sprays, lemon-scented when crushed. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers at shoot tips, dark red at first, yellower when open. Female flowers greenish, in separate clusters on tips of different shoots on same tree; ripen to red-brown, scaly cones. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for ornament.
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  • Blue Colorado Spruce Picea pungens (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m Slender conical evergreen. BARK Purplish and ridged. BRANCHES Bear smooth, yellowish-brown twigs. LEAVES Sharply pointed, stiff needles, to 3cm long, and usually dark green, grow all round shoot, but upper surface has more and some curve upwards to make top surface look more dense. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male and female flowers in small, separate clusters on same tree; males red-tinged, females greener. Mature female cones pendent, narrowly oval, to 12cm long, often slightly curved; scales have irregularly toothed tips. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of the south-western USA, growing on dry, stony mountain slopes and streamsides, but commonly planted for ornament and timber throughout much of N Europe.
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  • Santa Lucia Fir Abies bracteata (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 38m <br />
Tall, narrowly conical evergreen with tapering crown, strong foliage and pointed buds. BARK Black, marked with scars of fallen branches. LEAVES Sharp-spined needles, up to 5cm long, dark green above with 2 light bands below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Bright-green cones, up to 10cm long, are distinctive with their long projecting hair-like bracts, which persist throughout summer. Flowers are small and insignificant; males yellowish, growing on underside of shoot, females green, growing on top of shoot. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Rare native of S California. Does well in rainier parts of our region.
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  • Mountain Pine Pinus mugo (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
Two forms: tree-sized ssp. uncinata and shrub-like ssp. mugo. BARK Greyish-black in all trees. LEAVES Bright-green needles in all trees, to 8cm long, curved and stiff, appearing whorled. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS All trees have male flowers in clusters near shoot tips; female flowers reddish, in groups of 1–3. Ripe cones ovoid, pale brown, to 5cm long; scales have a small prickle. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Alps, Pyrenees and Balkans; dwarf forms occur at high altitudes.
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  • Silver-lime Tilia tomentosa (Tiliaceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
Broadly domed tree. BARK Grey, ridged. BRANCHES Mostly straight and ascending. Young twigs whitish and woolly, darkening with age; buds greenish brown, to 8mm long. LEAVES To 12cm long, rounded; with heart-shaped base, tapering tip and toothed margins; dark green, hairless and wrinkled above, white and downy with stellate hairs below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS 5–10 off-white, strongly scented flowers are supported by yellowish bract. Fruit, to 1.2cm long, is ovoid, warty and downy. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native from Balkans eastwards; planted here and thrives in towns. COMMENTS Woolly leaves ensure no aphids, and hence no honeydew. SIMILAR TREE Pendent Silver-lime T. ‘Petiolaris’ (Height to 30m) is similar to Silver-lime, but branches have pendulous tips. Leaf underside is very white and downy, as is the long petiole.
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  • Swamp Cypress Taxodium distichum (Taxodiaceae) HEIGHT to 35m. Deciduous conifer, conical at first, becoming broader and domed with maturity. When growing in or near water, fluted trunk is surrounded by emergent ‘breathing roots’ (likened by some to knobbly knees) characteristic of this species. BARK Pale reddish-brown, peeling in thin fibrous strips. BRANCHES Upright or spreading in older trees, carrying 2 types of shoots: long shoots bear spirally arranged leaves, and alternate side-shoots bear flattened leaves set in 2 ranks. LEAVES Alternate, up to 2cm long, and pale green; a greyish band on the underside has a fine midrib. A mature tree colours well in autumn before shedding its needles. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male cones produced in slender, branching clusters up to 15cm long at end of 1-year-old shoots. Female cones are globose and woody, on short stalks, ripening purplish-brown in first year. Each scale has a small curved spine in the centre. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of S and SE USA, planted here for ornament.
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  • Large-leaved Lime Tilia platyphyllos (Tiliaceae) HEIGHT to 40m. Tall and often narrow deciduous tree. Bole is normally free of suckers and shoots, distinguishing this species from Lime. BARK Dark-grey with fine fissures in older trees, which can sometimes be ridged. BRANCHES Mostly ascending but with slightly pendent tips. Twigs are reddish-green and sometimes slightly downy at tip, and ovoid buds, to 6mm long, are dark red and sometimes slightly downy. LEAVES To 9cm long, sometimes to 15cm long, broadly ovate, with a short tapering point and irregularly heart-shaped base. Margins are sharply toothed, upper surface is soft and dark green and lower surface is paler and sometimes slightly hairy. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish-white flowers are borne in clusters of up to 6 on whitish-green, slightly downy bracts, usually opening in June. Hard, woody fruit is up to 1.8cm long, almost rounded or slightly pear-shaped with 3–5 ridges; a few remain on lower branches in winter. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of lime-rich soils in Europe; in Britain it is native to central and S England and Wales, having been introduced elsewhere; it is often planted as a street tree.
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  • Snow Pear Pyrus nivalis (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 20m <br />
Medium-sized tree. BARK Rough and scaly. BRANCHES Ascending, usually spineless. LEAVES To 9cm long and smooth; blade runs decurrently down petiole. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS White flowers open just after leaves. Fruits, to 5cm long, are rounded, greenish-yellow, with purple dots. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native from France to Russia; planted here occasionally.
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  • Butternut Juglans cinerea (Juglandaceae) HEIGHT to 26m <br />
Slender tree. BARK Grey. LEAVES Compound, to 70cm long, leaflets more widely spaced than in Black Walnut; central leaf stalk is densely hairy and leaflets near leaf base are smallest. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Edible fruits in clusters of up to 12. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of eastern N America, planted here for ornament.
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  • Loquat Eriobotrya japonica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 10m <br />
Small evergreen tree or large shrub. BARK Grey-buff. BRANCHES Thick, with hairy twigs. LEAVES To 25cm long, elliptical, toothed with distinct veins; leathery, glossy-green above, downy reddish-brown below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers white, to 1cm across, in branched, downy terminal spikes. Fruits rounded, yellow, fleshy, to 6cm long. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of China, introduced here for ornament but not hardy.
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  • Blue Colorado Spruce Picea pungens (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m Slender conical evergreen. BARK Purplish and ridged. BRANCHES Bear smooth, yellowish-brown twigs. LEAVES Sharply pointed, stiff needles, to 3cm long, and usually dark green, grow all round shoot, but upper surface has more and some curve upwards to make top surface look more dense. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male and female flowers in small, separate clusters on same tree; males red-tinged, females greener. Mature female cones pendent, narrowly oval, to 12cm long, often slightly curved; scales have irregularly toothed tips. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of the south-western USA, growing on dry, stony mountain slopes and streamsides, but commonly planted for ornament and timber throughout much of N Europe.
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  • Blue Colorado Spruce Picea pungens (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m Slender conical evergreen. BARK Purplish and ridged. BRANCHES Bear smooth, yellowish-brown twigs. LEAVES Sharply pointed, stiff needles, to 3cm long, and usually dark green, grow all round shoot, but upper surface has more and some curve upwards to make top surface look more dense. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male and female flowers in small, separate clusters on same tree; males red-tinged, females greener. Mature female cones pendent, narrowly oval, to 12cm long, often slightly curved; scales have irregularly toothed tips. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of the south-western USA, growing on dry, stony mountain slopes and streamsides, but commonly planted for ornament and timber throughout much of N Europe.
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  • Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Pinaceae Height to 60m<br />
Tall, slender, conical evergreen. Bark Greyish-green, often blistered. Branches in whorls. Needles to 3.5cm long, grooved above, with 2 white bands below. Reproductive parts Male flowers small and yellow. Female flowers resemble tiny pinkish shaving-brushes. Both sexes grow at tips of twigs. Status Native of W North America. Widely planted here for timber; thrives in Scotland.
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  • European Silver Fir Abies alba (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 47m <br />
Fast-growing fir, reaching a great size; until 1960s held record for tallest tree in Britain. BARK White on trunk and branches of mature trees, grey on younger trees. LEAVES Thick needles, up to 3cm long, notched at tip and in 2 rows on twigs, which are covered with pale brown hairs. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Erect cones green at first, maturing orange-brown and up to 20cm long. Eventually disintegrate into fan-like scales and toothed bracts, leaving just the protruding woody axis. Cones normally grow high up. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of European mountains. At one time widely planted in Britain for timber.
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  • European Silver Fir Abies alba (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 47m <br />
Fast-growing fir, reaching a great size; until 1960s held record for tallest tree in Britain. BARK White on trunk and branches of mature trees, grey on younger trees. LEAVES Thick needles, up to 3cm long, notched at tip and in 2 rows on twigs, which are covered with pale brown hairs. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Erect cones green at first, maturing orange-brown and up to 20cm long. Eventually disintegrate into fan-like scales and toothed bracts, leaving just the protruding woody axis. Cones normally grow high up. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of European mountains. At one time widely planted in Britain for timber.
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  • Pyrus elaeagrifolia (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 10m <br />
Small, often slender tree. BARK Rough and scaly. BRANCHES Spreading and spiny, with twigs covered with grey hairs. LEAVES Alternate, to 8cm long, lanceolate, sometimes toothed at tip, and covered with thick white down, even at end of growing season. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS White, almost sessile flowers open with leaves. Thick-stalked fruits are about 1.3cm long and pear-shaped, sometimes globular, remaining green when ripe. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of the Balkans eastwards; planted here occasionally.
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  • Chinese Plum Yew (Chinese Cow-tail Pine Cephalotaxus fortunei (Cephalotaxaceae) HEIGHT to 10m. Small, densely foliaged tree. Usually has a single bole but sometimes 2 or 3. BARK Reddish and peeling. BRANCHES Dense foliage can sometimes become so heavy that the branches sag. LEAVES Flattened needles, up to 10cm long greenish and glossy above with 2 pale bands on the underside; borne on either side of bright-green shoots. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish or creamy male and female flowers appear on separate plants, opening in spring. Fruits are up to 2.5cm long and oval with fleshy, purple-brown skin. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of mountain forests in central and E China; sometimes grown as an ornamental garden tree.
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  • Dwarf Birch Betula nana (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 1m<br />
A low-growing and often rather prostrate undershrub. BARK Reddish brown. BRANCHES Short and upright or spreading, with stiff, hairy twigs. LEAVES Rather rounded, 6-8mm across, coarsely toothed and hairy when young, smooth and hairless when mature. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins, females covered with three-lobed scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A northern, tundra species in global terms, confined in our region as a native plant to the Scottish Highlands. Here, it grows on upland heaths and in bogs and is tolerant of both waterlogged and relatively free-draining peaty soils.
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  • Drooping Juniper Juniperus recurva (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 14m. Small evergreen with ascending branches but drooping foliage. Outline broadly conical. BARK Greyish-brown, peeling in long untidy shreds. LEAVES Tough and needle-like, clasping shoots; paint-like smell when crushed. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male cones are yellow, growing in small clusters at tips of shoots. Female cones are produced at ends of shoots and become oval, black and berry-like when mature, growing to 8mm across. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SW China and the Himalayas; planted in our region for ornament.
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  • Ribbon Gum Eucalyptus viminalis (Myrtaceae) HEIGHT to 50m. Large tree. BARK Rough, peels in long ribbons revealing smoother, pale patches. BRANCHES Mainly upright. LEAVES Juvenile leaves opposite, oblong, to 10cm long. Adult leaves alternate, to 18cm long and tapering. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS White flowers usually in clusters of 3; buds have scarlet domed caps. Fruits rounded. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of S and E Australia, grown here for timber and ornament.
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  • White Spruce Picea glauca (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 24m <br />
Narrowly conical evergreen, but broadening with maturity. BARK Purple-grey with roughly circular scales. BRANCHES Turn upwards at tips, bearing hairless, greyish twigs and blunt buds. LEAVES Pointed needles, 4-angled,to 1.3 cm long, pale green (sometimes bluish), and smelling unpleasantly to some when crushed. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Female cones are about 6cm long and 2cm across, cylindrical, pendent and orange-brown when ripe, with rounded margins to scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native northern North America, widely planted here for timber and ornament in Britain.
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  • Ashleaf Maple (Box Elder) Acer negundo (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 20m <br />
Small but vigorous deciduous tree with numerous shoots growing from bole and main branches. BARK Smooth in young trees, replaced by darker, shallowly fissured bark in older trees. BRANCHES With green shoots and small buds that have only 2 whitish scales. LEAVES Pinnate, to 15cm long with 3 or sometimes up to 7 irregularly toothed oval leaflets. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male and female flowers occur separately, opening in March before leaves. Petals are absent; male flowers are greenish with prominent red anthers, and female flowers are greenish-yellow and pendent. Brown fruits are about 2cm long with wings slightly spreading, remaining on tree after leaves have fallen. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of E North America, commonly planted as an ornamental tree, and sometimes for shelter; sometimes naturalised.
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  • Oriental Hawthorn Crataegus laciniata (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 10m. Rather low and spreading tree. BARK Scaly, brown with pinkish patches. BRANCHES Often twisted; young twigs and pedicels covered with white hairs; becoming smooth and blackish with age. LEAVES Deeply lobed, to 4cm long, with fine white hairs on both sides. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are creamy white, in dense clusters of up to 16; fruits are hairy at first, ripening to orange or red, and containing 3–5 seeds. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to SE Europe, Spain and Sicily and occasionally planted here for ornament.
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  • Azarole Crategus azarolus (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 8m<br />
A low, spreading tree. BARK Scaly and brown. BRANCHES Twisted and spreading, with numerous thorns. LEAVES As deeply lobed as Oriental Hawthorn but with broader lobes; fine white hairs on both leaf surfaces. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are creamy white and borne in dense clusters; fruits are yellow, to 2cm across. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of the Mediterranean region and planted here occasionally for ornament.
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  • Kermes Oak Oak Quercus coccifera (Fagaceae) HEIGHT to 5m. Small evergreen oak, often just a dense, much-branched shrub. BARK Greyish and smooth at first, finely patterned in older trees. BRANCHES Young twigs are yellowish with branched hairs, but become hairless with maturity. LEAVES Tough and holly-like, dark green above and a little paler below, to 4cm long with pronounced spines; petiole is short or almost absent. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Small acorns, to 1.5cm long, sit in a shallow cup protected by strong spiny scales. Take two years to mature so trees always have some acorns on them. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Widespread around Mediterranean. Grown here for its intriguing foliage; not hardy and so rare.
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  • Cretan Maple Acer sempervirens (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 12m <br />
Shrub or small, compact evergreen tree. BARK Smooth and grey with lighter patches. BRANCHES Tangled and twisted with shiny-brown twigs. LEAVES Opposite, to 5cm long and often 3-lobed, but sometimes irregular or simple with untoothed margins. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Greenish flowers open in April, in small erect clusters. Fruits are green or red-winged, with wings parallel or slightly divergent. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Crete and Greece, planted here occasionally.
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  • Sorbus decipiens (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 10m<br />
Usually a small tree. LEAVES Oval in overall outline but with sharply angled lobes and 10-13 pairs of veins. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits are orange, to 15mm long, with largish lenticels. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Planted here, sometimes naturalised.
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  • A species of whitebeam native to Exmoor, as yet properly described. Named 'D' after Desolate, the area on Exmoor where it grows. Similar to Sorbus vexans (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 10m. LEAVES Ovate to elliptical with shallow-toothed lobes extendingaround 1/3 to midrib; 8-9 pairs of veins. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits are red with scattered lenticels.
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  • Erman’s Birch Betula ermanii (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 24m<br />
A fast-growing and attractive tree, easily recognised by studying its bark. The tree is more spreading and has a stouter bole than the Silver Birch, with which it frequently hybridises. BARK Pinkish, or sometimes shining yellowish white; it peels horizontally and hangs in tattered strips down the bole of mature trees; younger trees have a smoother white bark. BRANCHES Rather upright, with twigs that are warty and usually hairless. LEAVES Triangular to heart-shaped with a pointed tip and toothed margins; there are 7-11 pairs of veins and the stalks hairless. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of E Asia, and introduced into Britain and Ireland from Japan. The best specimens are seen in established gardens where the peeling bark is a fine winter feature.
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  • Grey Alder Alnus incana (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 25m <br />
A fast-growing alder more at home on dry soils than most other alders. Shoots and new leaves are covered with a dense layer of soft greyish hairs (hence incana). BARK Smooth and grey. LEAVES Triangular and toothed, terminating in a point, and the margins do not roll inwards. Hairs persist on the underside of the leaf as it matures. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The catkins and fruits are very similar to those of other alders, although the green fruits are more globose before ripening to the typical dark, woody alder cone. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of Europe, introduced into Britain but not often planted. A good species for wasteland and reclamation schemes.
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  • Noble Fir Abies procera (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 50m. Extremely large, narrowly conical conifer when mature BARK Silver-grey or purplish; develops shallow fissures with age. BRANCHES Youngest twigs are reddish-brown and hairy, with resinous buds at tip. LEAVES Bluntly pointed needles, 2-3cm long, grooved on upper surface; blue-grey colour is marked by paler bands on both surfaces. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are reddish and supported below shoot. Cylindrical female flowers, resembling small cones, are red or green and grow on upper side of shoot; green spine emerges beneath each scale. Cones, up to 25cm long, held erect on upper side of the branches. Disintegrate in winter, but may be so abundant that branches are damaged by their weight. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to Pacific NW USA. Planted in our region since 1850, reaching greatest size in Scotland.
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  • Western Larch Larix occidentalis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m<br />
Largest of all the larches, although it rarely reaches its maximum height away from its native range. A tall, slender, conical tree. BARK Grey and scaly, forming deep fissures low down. BRANCHES slightly ascending and short with red-brown shoots. LEAVES Soft needles up to 4cm long, borne in tufts on side-shoots. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are yellow, and pendent below the shoots; female flowers are red and upright above the shoot on the same tree. Both open in spring. Cones are ovoid, 4cm long, with long bracts protruding from between the scales, distinguishing this from all other larches. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION native of mountains of British Columbia, south to Oregon. Introduced in 1881 into Britain, where there are now some very fine specimens in mature collections.
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  • Dunkeld (Hybrid) Larch Larix x eurolepis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 32m. Vigorous deciduous conifer, conical in outline when mature. Shares characteristics with both parents (Common Larch and Japanese Larch); most features intermediate between the 2 but rather variable. BARK Similar to Japanese Larch. LEAVES Dark green needles, to 5cm long. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Female cones are pinkish at first, but ripen yellow-brown and have slightly reflexed scales with projecting bracts. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION More vigorous than either parents, and copes better with harsh conditions and poor soils; quite widely planted, mostly for timber but occasionally for ornament
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  • Service-tree Sorbus domestica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 20m<br />
Resembles Rowan but note subtle differences in bark, buds and fruit. BARK Rich brown bark, fissured, ridged and often peels in vertical shreds. BRANCHES Upright to spreading. Buds are smooth, rounded and green, unlike the purple, pointed buds of the Rowan. LEAVES Alternate and pinnate, composed of up to 8 pairs of oblong, toothed leaflets about 5cm long, and softly hairy on underside. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are produced in May in rounded, branched clusters; each flower is about 1.5cm across and composed of 5 creamy-white petals. Small pear- or sometimes apple-shaped fruits are up to 2cm long and green or brown like a russet apple. They have a very sharp taste when ripe, but after a frost they become more palatable. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Widespread in southern Europe and a rare British native; also planted occasionally.
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  • Wellingtonia (Giant Sequoia) Sequoiadendron giganteum (Taxodiaceae) HEIGHT to 50m. An outstandingly large evergreen. Forms a striking, narrowly conical tree with a huge tapering bole, ridged and fluted at the base. BARK Thick, spongy and rich-red. BRANCHES lower branches are pendulous, but the upper branches are more level. LEAVES Scale-like, green and up to 1cm long; they clasp the shoots, and smell of aniseed when crushed. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The small yellow male cones can be abundant and grow at the tips of the shoots, releasing their pollen in spring. Female cones are solitary, sometimes paired, and ovoid, up to 8cm long and 5cm in diameter when ripe, with a deep brown colour and a corky texture. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of the Sierra Nevada in California. First discovered in 1852, it was soon introduced into Britain, where it thrives best in the west.
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  • Northern White Cedar Thuja occidentalis (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 20m. Broadly conical tree. BARK Orange-brown, peeling in vertical strips. LEAVES Flattened, fern-like sprays of foliage show white, waxy bands below. Crushed leaves smell of apple and cloves. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male cones recall those of Western Red Cedar; female cones have rounded tips to cone scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of E North America. Does not thrive here.
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  • Serbian Spruce Picea omorika (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
Narrowly conical to columnar tree, with a slender form unlike all other spruces. BARK Orange-brown and scaly in older trees. BRANCHES Lower branches are slightly descending with raised tips, higher branches being mostly level or ascending. All branches are short. LEAVES Flattened and keeled needles, to 2cm long, may be blunt or barely pointed, dark blue-green above with 2 pale bands below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male cones are large and red, becoming yellow when releasing pollen. Female cones grow on curving stalks and are up to 6cm long, ovoid and blue-green at first, ripening to brown. Cone scales are rounded with finely toothed margins. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of limestone rocks of the Drina basin of Serbia, unknown until 1875, but now a popular ornamental tree
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  • California Nutmeg Torreya californica (Taxaceae) HEIGHT to 20m. Broadly conical tree with a stout bole in mature specimens, producing high-quality timber. BARK Reddish grey with narrow ridges. BRANCHES long and almost horizontal in mature trees, supporting descending lines of greenish shoots. LEAVES Needle-like with two pale greyish bands on the underside; grow in a row on each side of shoot, and smell of sage if crushed. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Trees are usually either male or female. Male flowers resemble small yellowish catkins, borne on undersides of shoots. Fruits are ovoid, 5cm long, and green with pur¬plish streaks; resemble nutmegs and contain a single (inedible) seed. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of mountain woodlands in California. Often planted in mature gardens in Britain.
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  • Dunkeld (Hybrid) Larch Larix x eurolepis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 32m. Vigorous deciduous conifer, conical in outline when mature. Shares characteristics with both parents (Common Larch and Japanese Larch); most features intermediate between the 2 but rather variable. BARK Similar to Japanese Larch. LEAVES Dark green needles, to 5cm long. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Female cones are pinkish at first, but ripen yellow-brown and have slightly reflexed scales with projecting bracts. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION More vigorous than either parents, and copes better with harsh conditions and poor soils; quite widely planted, mostly for timber but occasionally for ornament
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  • Black Spruce Picea mariana (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 19m<br />
Slender, conical evergreen with shortest needles and cones of any spruce (apart from Oriental, whose needles are darker green and blunt). BARK Grey-brown and scaly. LEAVES Bluntly pointed needles, blue-green above and pale blue below, to 1.5cm long, 4-angled, growing all round hairy, yellowish shoots. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Cones ovoid, reddish and pendent, to 4cm long, usually growing near tree top. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of N America, planted here for ornament.
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  • European Silver Fir Abies alba (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 47m <br />
Fast-growing fir, reaching a great size; until 1960s held record for tallest tree in Britain. BARK White on trunk and branches of mature trees, grey on younger trees. LEAVES Thick needles, up to 3cm long, notched at tip and in 2 rows on twigs, which are covered with pale brown hairs. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Erect cones green at first, maturing orange-brown and up to 20cm long. Eventually disintegrate into fan-like scales and toothed bracts, leaving just the protruding woody axis. Cones normally grow high up. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of European mountains. At one time widely planted in Britain for timber.
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  • Yellow Buckeye (Sweet Buckeye) Aesculus flava (Hippocastanaceae) HEIGHT to 30m. Large domed, deciduous tree. BARK Peeling and scaly grey-brown. BRANCHES Ascending and twisted. LEAVES Palmate with 5 leaflets, each up to 20cm long. The leaves turn red early in the autumn. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS 4-petalled yellow flowers are borne in erect spikes about 15cm long, usually opening in late spring or early summer. The smooth rounded fruits are about 6cm across, covered in brown scales on the outside and containing one or 2 seeds. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of E USA, planted here in parks and gardens for its excellent autumn colours.
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  • Pond Cypress Taxodium ascendens (Taxodiaceae) HEIGHT to 18m. Slender, conical to columnar deciduous tree. BARK Grey and ridged in older specimens. BRANCHES Horizontal but curving down sharply at tips, and fine shoots that curved upwards with small clasping leaves and give a knotted-cord look. Deciduous shoots are shed in autumn. There is a fine display of autumn colours, starting orange and turning brown. LEAVES Pale green and 8mm long; arranged spirally. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are yellowish-green, hanging catkins up to 20cm long. Female flowers are produced on the same tree at base of male catkins, first appearing in autumn, but not opening until spring. Rounded cones up to 3cm long are green at first but ripen brown. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of the SE USA, growing in wet ground by ponds and swampy ground. Introduced into Britain, where it succeeds only in warmer parts of the south.
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