Every now and then, I come across something I can't identify. I'm hoping that someone might be able to help with this mystery since my brother and I have hunted for the solution without success.
These bushes are about eight feet tall, are happily growing among the wild raspberries where hardwoods were clear cut somewhere between ten and fifteen years ago.
Does anybody recognize this plant? We've been trying to figure it out for several years now and I'm really hoping one of my brilliant blog readers can give us a clue.
13 comments:
What kind of berries does it have? If any. I 'm digging through my books right now. :^)
Hugs to ya, and thanks for the mystery, from BetyLee
It looks like it might be a sumac bush.
I haven't seen the fruit, BetsyLee - I looked last fall, but I was too late. I'll have to tag the plant and check it earlier, since it sort of got lost in the brambles after the dramatic flowers were finished blooming. They start out a deep maroon bud and open into the almost white flower.
Neet, you might be right about sumac - I looked at different native sumac plants and the staghorn sumac looks like it might be a match but the growth habit and flower shape are both enough different that I am not yet completely convinced. This definitely gets us closer to identifying the bush. They're really pretty and we're hoping they're native good guys. :)
Many thanks and hugs to you both.
Reminds me of an elderberry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus_racemosa
See if this link looks related to what you have. It really is a beautiful plant.
Woodland Paws
Thanks for the idea, Woodland Paws. It isn't elderberry, though I can see why it reminds you of it. The flowers are too clustered, rather than flat and I have some elderberry in my neighborhood. Still looking.... :)
Neet, is there a particular type of sumac you're thinking it might be? I'm not seeing any varieties that seem to match very well. Thank you!
The source I chose to identify this bush has not responded, so I may try another person.
In the meantime, please keep up posted of any new guesses, and of changes in the bush's appearance. I am very curious. :^)
Hugs to ya, from BetsyLee
My new source says Sambucus racemosa, the red elderberry. "The creamy flower clusters are cone-shaped, the leaves are opposite, and the fruits are red, as suggested by the name. They are related to viburnums and honeysuckles. This shrub occurs in Michigan, according to Ed Voss's book on Michigan Flora, Part III, pp. 308-309. They like forest edges and disturbed habitats, and bloom about now in N.Y."
I hope this helps. Be sure to be on the lookout for the berries this year. You can't eat them, they are poisonous, I guess. But they sure are pretty. If this is the right id, that is.
Hugs to ya from BetsyLee
Thank you, BetsyLee - and thank your friend, too. I looked the Sambucus racemosa up and it doesn't look like a perfect match, but I'll keep an eye open for the berries. Woodland Paws thought it was Sambucus racemosa, too, so we might just have a couple with odd growth habits. Time will tell! :) Hugs back to you!
Those purple buds make me wonder too. I've never seen the S. racemosa with purple buds. Maybe I've never seen the buds. Hmm.
Hugs to ya again, from BetsyLee
Well, I am late to the party. I was thinking everything that was already called.
So a digging I went.
How about Medinilla speciosa???
Sheila
The flowers looked good, Sheila, but the leaves were different. Thank you for the possibility. Still looking... :)
Ok, like a mystry photo, let's give this another shot:
laurel sumac (Malosma laurina) - Laurel sumac is a large rounded evergreen shrub or small tree growing 10' to 12' tall. It is aromatic with reddish leaf veins, petioles and stems. The leaves are somewhat leathery and lance-shaped. The leaf blades are up to 4" long.
sheila
Post a Comment