Tree Identification

[Wendelspanswick]

I am pretty good with tree identification , especially when they are in leaf or planked as timber but I am struggling to identify some tree's in our wood with unusual bark.
They are mature tree's which seem to sucker freely from the roots, the bark on the young limbs is smooth but on the mature parts it seems to detach itself in flakes. They have reached a good height and girth.

Answers on a post card please!

[oldclaypaws]

Possibly Plane trees? They lose bark, as do Eucalyptus, but you'd recognise Eucalyptus from the oval blue green leaves. Plane tree leaves have a rather indistinct maple/sycamorish shape. Only guessing.....

We had what was guessed to be a wild pear or spindle by various experts, then the year after it had a fine crop of crab apples !

Plane trees-

plane leaf.jpg (17.08 KiB) Viewed 25819 times

[Wendelspanswick]

You maybe right with the Plane but its definitely not a Eucalyptus tree as we have a large specimen in the garden and its an evergreen.

[Treeation]

They look and sound like sycamore to me.
Patrick

www.treeation.co.uk

[Treeation]

Or possibly horse chestnut. Look for fallen leaves around base for more clues

[SimonFisher]

For a wider audience, try posting details to http://www.ispotnature.org/.

[oldclaypaws]

They look and sound like sycamore to me

Planes and sycamores can look very similar (although they're not related), and just to confuse the issue in the USA London Planes are referred to as Sycamore, and sycamores can be known as false or mock-plane . My Sycamores (Acer pseudoplatanus) are smooth and not peeling, but they're shaded under oaks and not too old. The way to tell them apart is throw a piece through the air, if it flies its a plane.

Like the ispot link Simon, I've several herbaceous plants I'd like to identify which are appearing where we've cleared the brambles.

If it turns out it is a Plane, the timber 'Lacewood' is very attractive and prized by the likes of turners and woodworkers, the fine stippled grain looks like feathers (and used to sell well in my gallery). Sycamore is also valued timber, but a rather subtle cream colour and can develop curious bright blue staining.

[splodger]

looks like sycamore to me
we have several in our wood with that "patchy/flaky" bark
can't believe that you can't id sycamore though - so maybe it is something else

[sandspider]

Looks like plane to me as well...

[Treeation]

Young sycamores will have smooth bark, older, more mature sycamores have flaky plated bark. The colour of the bark (unless photo quality isn't brilliant) looks a little bit dull to be Plane. Plane bark looks like army "camo" sycamore is less colourful and more dull in appearance.