Mystery Tree

[Neanderthal]

Most of the trees on the streets near me are things like Lime, Horse Chestnut, Maple etc.

I've no idea what this one is and it is starting to bug me . Can anyone help?

Cheers
Stu

 

[robin wood]

My first thought was a maple of some kind, the flowers look very maple and the bark is very like Norway maple, they don't all have maple shaped leaves. A glance through my book shows red snake bark maple Acer capillipes looks a pretty good match though there are a few others that could be possibilities.

 

[Callum]

What about Pere david's Maple 'Ernest Wilson' (Acer davidii)

 

[kodiakjoe]

What about Pere david's Maple 'Ernest Wilson' (Acer davidii)

After a delve in Roger Phillips 'Trees in Britain' (p67) i'd have to agree. A. distylum looks close too but the keys (seeds) will clinch it - hanging down: davidii, on upright spikes (unusual for Acers): distylum.

Which part of this fair city has such exotic street trees?

 

[robin wood]

What about Pere david's Maple 'Ernest Wilson' (Acer davidii)

That was my second choice and I nearly mentioned it but felt the leaves were a better match for Acer capillipes, note the small side lobe half way down on the OPs leaves which is also present on capillipes but neither of the others. I think we can be sure it is an ornamental maple though.

 

[Andy2112]

I would have thought the local council would know what the tree is?

 

[robin wood]

I would have thought the local council would know what the tree is?

I doubt they will have records of what was planted 20 years ago, or that their tree officer would have a mental or physical note of all the 10,000 street trees on their patch.

 

[mountainm]

I doubt they will have records of what was planted 20 years ago, or that their tree officer would have a mental or physical note of all the 10,000 street trees on their patch.

If there's a tree preservation order on it they'll know - our local inspector knew exactly what trees we had planted on our road.

 

[Neanderthal]

Thanks for the help folks. This tree is a bit unusual on the streets of Roundhay and I didn't have a clue.
Interesting to learn that not all Acer trees have the 'classic' style leaves as that is one of the main features I'd use for ID.

Stu

 

[Callum]

Hi Neanderthal

Don't worry about your tree ID skills. It's a cultival meaning that the gardeners have been trying to get it to look like something as far removed from what it should look like as possible, a bit like dog breeding.

I much prefer the natural look.