Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA

LJ126 · 2nd December 2009, 07:23 AM

Hi, my name is Jon, and I have to find out what kind of plant this is growing on my property! I've been researching for the past few weeks and I've been unable to figure out what this thing is!

The plant (on my property) grows right along a fence line and is about 15 feet tall at its tallest. All of the limbs are relatively straight and branch off from a large center point as pictured. The limbs are between 1.5 - 3 inches in diameter. The leaves that grow off of it are very small, simple and do not alternate. I don't know if its a tree or a bush, but I'm assuming that it grows wild in the Midwest.

I've attached a few images (of unfortunately poor quality) to help ID this thing. The reason I'd like to ID it is because I'm considering using a section of it as a hiking stick, as its reasonably strong and very straight - that's why I've started to cut a section of it. Thanks for any help!

TreeCo · 2nd December 2009, 10:23 AM

Looks like Mimosa.

PCA Alien Plant Working Group - Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)

Jeff Darby · 2nd December 2009, 10:42 AM

Heres a i.d specimem:

Eric Frei · 2nd December 2009, 06:15 PM

Am I missing something, where's the pictures of the LJ126's tree?

Jeff Darby · 2nd December 2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Am I missing something, where's the pictures of the LJ126's tree?

There were pictures there earlier, or i'm going..

Eric Frei · 2nd December 2009, 09:09 PM

Yeah, not loaded to our server.

URL was ....

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs022.snc3/10966_1283444731947_1404984680_30823434_3772006_n.jpg

Which is now dead.

arborjockey · 3rd December 2009, 12:02 AM

its really snowing hard in those pix

LJ126 · 3rd December 2009, 02:43 AM

Hmm... weird, pics are gone now. Let me try putting them back up. Sorry about the poor picture quality - I'm a lot of things but not a photographer!

LJ126 · 3rd December 2009, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeCo

Looks like Mimosa.

PCA Alien Plant Working Group - Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)

It does look like Mimosa (and that was my first thought) but I didn't think it grew naturally here in St. Louis. That's not to say that someone didn't plant it before I moved here...

Hmm... Anyone else have any thoughts?

Bernard Keays · 6th December 2009, 10:45 AM

J.D.,

I’m not convinced that it is an Albizia julibrissin (silk tree). However photo (1) does have an Albizia look about it. Silk trees usually succumb to borers in our climate (not that this is a distinguishing feature). Does this occur where you live? The tree depicted in photo (2 & 3) does remind me of a shrub Caesalpinia gilliesii (bird of paradise). You rarely see this shrub any more except in old parks like New Farm Park or Newstead Park in Brisbane. Its a sub-tropical plant and I suspect that it wouldn't cope well with heavy frosts. Did the tree have pink staminate (pom pom) flowers? Or do they differ. A few photo’s of the flowers would be good...

Jeff Darby · 6th December 2009, 11:24 AM

Heres a link to compare with...

http://tiny.cc/XfXqS

Eric Frei · 6th December 2009, 02:16 PM

LOL, here's a picture lifted from JayD's link of Caesalpinia gilliesii - Yellow Bird of Paradise

Not Calliandra is it?

jmcg.insight.gardens · 6th December 2009, 11:01 PM

Hi there LJ126

Quote:

I've attached a few images (of unfortunately poor quality) to help ID this thing. The reason I'd like to ID it is because I'm considering using a section of it as a hiking stick, as its reasonably strong and very straight - that's why I've started to cut a section of it. Thanks for any help!

I'd err on the side of CAUTION before using any part of it for use, some parts of Caesalpinia gilliesii are poisonous. Not that I'm saying that this is the correct I.D. but it is also possible,as it strongly resembles the description. It,s not a plant I,m familiar with.

This plant is tricky to I.D. as there are several genus that are similar in appearance to what you have shown.

An Arborist would need a picture of the flower to correctly identify this plant. Have you seen a flower?

The thing that strikes me the most is the strongly ridged branches, not familiar with this with Albizia julibrissin? nor Calliandra ? from my memory they are both smooth.

Will have to go and look at them both up the road to verify my thoughts. Until then I,m not certain to claim any Identification.

Until an accurate Identification by an Arborist is made I would not whittle it at all.

Regards Julie

LJ126 · 7th December 2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernard Keays

J.D.,

I’m not convinced that it is an Albizia julibrissin (silk tree). However photo (1) does have an Albizia look about it. Silk trees usually succumb to borers in our climate (not that this is a distinguishing feature). Does this occur where you live? The tree depicted in photo (2 & 3) does remind me of a shrub Caesalpinia gilliesii (bird of paradise). You rarely see this shrub any more except in old parks like New Farm Park or Newstead Park in Brisbane. Its a sub-tropical plant and I suspect that it wouldn't cope well with heavy frosts. Did the tree have pink staminate (pom pom) flowers? Or do they differ. A few photo’s of the flowers would be good...

It's hard to say; since its nearly winter here in St. Louis I'm a bit late to check out the flowers on it. I'll keep an eye on this one and try to get some pictures of any changes this or its neighbors make.

The thing that makes me think it isn't Mimosa is that the plant is thriving even though its below 32F or 0C (been hovering between 0 and -5) here right now, and has been all week. It doesn't seem affected by the cold at all. I've talked to a few buddies of mine that are forest rangers here at a St. Louis County park and they won't make a positive ID either but the general consensus is Mimosa.

I'll keep trying to figure her out and if anything changes I'll be back and let ya know.

Jon

jmcg.insight.gardens · 10th December 2009, 07:32 PM

Hi there again,

well I went to look at the trees as I said I would. I don't think its them.

Its the Lenticels on this tree that just didn't fit with me, and of course that ridged trunk. The unusual habit of growth.

So a bit of research and these links might be on the right track, maybe not, this is not a tree I'm familiar with.

I can't profess to an accurate I.D. this is the closest thing I could come up with.

Have you seen any pods on the ground around it?

I would be interested on a future photo of a flower, if you ever get the time

Quote:

Leucaena leucocephala
Shrub or tree up to 18 m tall, forked when shrubby and branching strongly after coppicing, with greyish bark and prominent lenticels. Leaves bipinnate with 4-9 pairs of pinnae, variable in length up to 35 cm, with a large gland (up to 5 mm) at the base of the petiole; leaflets 11-22 pairs/pinna, 8-16 mm x 1-2 mm, acute. Flowers numerous, in globose heads with a diameter of 2-5 cm, stamens (10 per flower) and pistil 10 mm long, anthers pilose, dehiscing at dawn. Pod 14-26 cm x 1.5-2 cm, pendant, brown at maturity. Seeds 18-22 per pod , 6-10 mm long, brown.

reference:Factsheet - Leucaena leucocephala

also look at a the zoomed in top photo in the following link

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?i...%3D84%26um%3D1

other than that we'll just have to wait and see it flower.

regards Julie

Bernard Keays · 10th December 2009, 10:22 PM

LJ126,

What do you call Mimosa? The only one I know of is Mimosa pudica or sensitive plant.

2nd December 2009, 07:23 AM	#1
LJ126 I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 4	Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA Hi, my name is Jon, and I have to find out what kind of plant this is growing on my property! I've been researching for the past few weeks and I've been unable to figure out what this thing is! The plant (on my property) grows right along a fence line and is about 15 feet tall at its tallest. All of the limbs are relatively straight and branch off from a large center point as pictured. The limbs are between 1.5 - 3 inches in diameter. The leaves that grow off of it are very small, simple and do not alternate. I don't know if its a tree or a bush, but I'm assuming that it grows wild in the Midwest. I've attached a few images (of unfortunately poor quality) to help ID this thing. The reason I'd like to ID it is because I'm considering using a section of it as a hiking stick, as its reasonably strong and very straight - that's why I've started to cut a section of it. Thanks for any help!

2nd December 2009, 10:23 AM	#2
TreeCo Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 307	Re: Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA Looks like Mimosa. PCA Alien Plant Working Group - Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) __________________ Grow more vegetables!

2nd December 2009, 10:42 AM	#3
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,059	Re: Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA Heres a i.d specimem: Attached Thumbnails __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

2nd December 2009, 06:15 PM	#4
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA Am I missing something, where's the pictures of the LJ126's tree? __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

2nd December 2009, 09:09 PM	#6
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA Yeah, not loaded to our server. URL was .... http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs022.snc3/10966_1283444731947_1404984680_30823434_3772006_n.jpg Which is now dead. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

3rd December 2009, 12:02 AM	#7
arborjockey Mature tree Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: hawaii. ohio. oregon. california Posts: 259	Re: Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA its really snowing hard in those pix

3rd December 2009, 02:43 AM	#8
LJ126 I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 4	Re: Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA Hmm... weird, pics are gone now. Let me try putting them back up. Sorry about the poor picture quality - I'm a lot of things but not a photographer! Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Jeff Darby; 3rd December 2009 at 03:40 AM. Reason: upload picture to our server

6th December 2009, 10:45 AM	#10
Bernard Keays Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glasshouse Posts: 193	Re: Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA J.D., I’m not convinced that it is an Albizia julibrissin (silk tree). However photo (1) does have an Albizia look about it. Silk trees usually succumb to borers in our climate (not that this is a distinguishing feature). Does this occur where you live? The tree depicted in photo (2 & 3) does remind me of a shrub Caesalpinia gilliesii (bird of paradise). You rarely see this shrub any more except in old parks like New Farm Park or Newstead Park in Brisbane. Its a sub-tropical plant and I suspect that it wouldn't cope well with heavy frosts. Did the tree have pink staminate (pom pom) flowers? Or do they differ. A few photo’s of the flowers would be good... __________________ Bernie

6th December 2009, 11:24 AM	#11
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,059	Re: Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA Heres a link to compare with... http://tiny.cc/XfXqS __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

6th December 2009, 02:16 PM	#12
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA LOL, here's a picture lifted from JayD's link of Caesalpinia gilliesii - Yellow Bird of Paradise Not Calliandra is it? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

10th December 2009, 10:22 PM	#16
Bernard Keays Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glasshouse Posts: 193	Re: Tree/bush ID from St. Louis, MO, USA LJ126, What do you call Mimosa? The only one I know of is Mimosa pudica or sensitive plant. __________________ Bernie

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