What's this tree?
June 5, 2017 7:43 PM Subscribe
Idle curiosity has turned to frustration with my inability to ID this tree. Zone 9a/b.
I pointed it out to my aunt, the amateur horticulturalist, on a recent walk. I was like, "hey that tree is weird what is it?" and she didn't know. She asked around when she got home (which is in a different hardiness zone, so what do they know?) and the best answer she got was 'sassafras' which ain't right.
I figured it was time to stop being lazy so I worked my way through some leaf ID sites. I got nothing. Then I went on to leaf shapes (going with 'obcordate' on this one, can't wait to hear I'm wrong) and several minutes scrolling Google Images and so forth. No dice.
So now it's up to you to immediately recognize and name this tree so I can sleep tonight without having to expend any more of my own energy. Thank you.
I pointed it out to my aunt, the amateur horticulturalist, on a recent walk. I was like, "hey that tree is weird what is it?" and she didn't know. She asked around when she got home (which is in a different hardiness zone, so what do they know?) and the best answer she got was 'sassafras' which ain't right.
I figured it was time to stop being lazy so I worked my way through some leaf ID sites. I got nothing. Then I went on to leaf shapes (going with 'obcordate' on this one, can't wait to hear I'm wrong) and several minutes scrolling Google Images and so forth. No dice.
So now it's up to you to immediately recognize and name this tree so I can sleep tonight without having to expend any more of my own energy. Thank you.
Best answer: Yep, a Bauhinia of some kind. There are a lot of species.
posted by fshgrl at 8:26 PM on June 5, 2017
posted by fshgrl at 8:26 PM on June 5, 2017
Response by poster: Doing a Google Image Search for 'bauhinia leaf' gives me results that match perfectly. Thank you all.
posted by komara at 8:29 PM on June 5, 2017
posted by komara at 8:29 PM on June 5, 2017
I'd often seen this tree, and now I know what it is called, thanks AskMe.
Interesting that the flower from a tree in this family is on the Hong Kong flag (specifically the Hong Kong orchid tree -
Bauhinia blakeana).
posted by Gomez_in_the_South at 9:28 PM on June 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Interesting that the flower from a tree in this family is on the Hong Kong flag (specifically the Hong Kong orchid tree -
Bauhinia blakeana).
posted by Gomez_in_the_South at 9:28 PM on June 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Squeak Attack at 8:12 PM on June 5, 2017