Evergreen broadleaf tree

[spandit]

Found a new tree on my property today, behind an outbuilding. It stuck out as it was in full leaf but not a conifer/holly/laurel. The leaves are quite small (40mm long?), smooth both sides and there was a single black berry (it's dark so couldn't readily see more). The tree was about 25' tall and fairly untidy rather than just being a single trunk

Any ideas?

 

[slowworm]

Privet by the looks of it.

 

[chimpy leon]

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus).

 

[Harvestman]

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus).

Is cherry laurel evergreen?

 

[chimpy leon]

Is cherry laurel evergreen?

yes they are evergreen.

 

[Harvestman]

yes they are evergreen.

Thanks. My book wasn't clear on the point.

 

[shaggystu]

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus).

What he said

 

[chimpy leon]

The leaves do look kind of seem like a privet's though...

Does anyone know how big a garden privet grows when it doesnt get a flat-top each year?

 

[xylaria]

I am with privet. The fruit looks like privet/olive like. If it is a privet it is an old one with a trunk that size.

 

[spandit]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll go with privet, pretty sure I know what a cherry laurel looks like.

Interesting to see it's an invasive species elsewhere in the world. It's growing on effectively wasteland, next to some elder. Might have to come down to make way for a fence/hedge but hopefully it will grow back again

 

[British Red]

The leaf size should distinguish for you Spandit - privet has smaller leaves - first finger joint length, laurel leaves are much larger, lighter green and far more shiny. Its hard to get a sense of scale from the pictures to be honest.

I think of privet as an invader - and a horrible hedge plant tbh. It doesn't have many redeeming features over other hedges.

 

[spandit]

It's definitely not laurel so pretty sure it's privet

It's not doing any harm where it is although might need to come out as I mentioned to make way for a fence. Wonder what it's like to carve/burn?

 

[woodstock]

I would go with privet

 

[shaggystu]

Apologies. I only gave the picture a quick glance before I agreed with cherry laurel. I've read the text now, and looked at the new picture, and I agree entirely that it's not cherry laurel.

I don't know about privet, it's a plant I've never paid any great attention to in all honesty.

Sorry for being absolutely no help whatsoever

 

[shack]

I am with privet. The fruit looks like privet/olive like. If it is a privet it is an old one with a trunk that size.

Do remember Privet berries are poisonous

 

[ozzy1977]

I am thinking that it is privet, makes a change to seeing it as a hedge.

 

[Mouse040]

I would say ligustrum-japonicum which is a common privet tree rather than a bush and it fruits throughout the year it's native to japan but has been used all over the world and is bird spread seed bearer which explains the one off distribution


Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise
@mouseinthewood

 

[Toddy]

If it is privet and it's been allowed to grow long and whippy, then it's a good for basketry and it's the kind of basket that deals well with wet.
Meso and Neolithic fishtraps made of privet have been found in several sites in Europe, such as at At Noyen-sur-Seine (Mordant & Mordant 1992) six conical fish-traps made of privet were recorded alongside a wooden canoe, dated to c. 6500 BC

Similar traps were found in Ireland when excavation revealed a fishing platform with the traps too.
http://www.m3motorway.ie/Archaeology/Section2/Clowanstown1/file,16720,en.pdf

see pages 41 & 42 and plates 21 to 34 for details of the traps.

It's an archaeological report, and it's a huge pdf folks so open only if you have time.

M

 

[Mouse040]

If it is privet and it's been allowed to grow long and whippy, then it's a good for basketry and it's the kind of basket that deals well with wet.
Meso and Neolithic fishtraps made of privet have been found in several sites in Europe, such as at At Noyen-sur-Seine (Mordant & Mordant 1992) six conical fish-traps made of privet were recorded alongside a wooden canoe, dated to c. 6500 BC

Similar traps were found in Ireland when excavation revealed a fishing platform with the traps too.
http://www.m3motorway.ie/Archaeology/Section2/Clowanstown1/file,16720,en.pdf

see pages 41 & 42 and plates 21 to 34 for details of the traps.

It's an archaeological report, and it's a huge pdf folks so open only if you have time.

M

I enjoyed that thanks



Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise
@mouseinthewood

 

[xylaria]

I have found privet useful for making little edging fences. Just rough ones, even quite a small hedge of makes tons of withes. I couldnt get it to bend back on its self so it personally I wouldnt do anything ambitious with it. Cone traps should be pretty easy.

Privet is related to olive. The fruits on uk olives can be really tiny. There isn't anything edible in the uk with hard black fruit.