Specie Identification Help Please

kirk@localbonsai.com · May 19, 2014

Hi everyone,

I've got an unidentified tree here and need your help ! This tree (or shrub) is native to the Boston, MA area and grows like a weed. The leaves are quite small , and overall, the specimen appears to be suitable for bonsai culture. See attached pictures.

Much thanks ,

-Kirk

drew33998 · May 19, 2014

Looks like crabapple

fviljoen963 · May 19, 2014

Looks alot like Celtis spp and they do grow everywhere

Neli · May 19, 2014

I dont think it is crab apple or celtis...maybe if the flower can b seen, the ID can be easier.

kirk@localbonsai.com · May 19, 2014

thanks so far guys. this is not crab apple, nor does this variety flower. I will take better pictures and post them tomorrow as well.

-kdr152004

gergwebber · May 19, 2014

Cool tree. Looks like Cornus to me. Some sort of dogwood, anyway.

jk_lewis · May 20, 2014

My first thought was dogwood, too, but I can't tell from the photos whether the leaves are opposite or not.

kirk@localbonsai.com · May 20, 2014

Leaves appear to be alternate and serrated

gergwebber · May 20, 2014

Haha, this is a good one. I thought it looked opposite too. Are you sure it does not flower? Or has it just not flowered yet? I say this because it looks like the leaves have stipules, which is a major id key for Rosaceae. Could be a prunus. There are cherries with that leaf texture i think? And the bark looks like a lot of my young plums bark.

kirk@localbonsai.com · May 20, 2014

I've had it in a pot for 2 yrs and it has yet to flower. Could this be because it's a younger plant, ~5-10 years ?

Stan Kengai · May 20, 2014

That's definitely a fruit tree you have there. I'll go out on a limb and guess Prunus nigra, Canadian plum.

bougie nights · May 20, 2014

I think it is Rhamnus cathartica. European buckthorn.

Lazylightningny · May 20, 2014

gergwebber said:
Cool tree. Looks like Cornus to me. Some sort of dogwood, anyway.

That's what I was thinking. Veination on the leaves looks like dogwood.

kirk@localbonsai.com · May 21, 2014

I've narrowed it down to the Rhamnus Genus with the help of some friends, i.e. Buckthorn - which is actually invasive to the New England area! This type of shrub can display opposite, alternate, or semi-opposite leaves, and normally has berries despite the lack of fruit on my specimen.

I'm putting my money on Rhamnus Carthartica ; I invite others to dispute this educated guess.

THanks,

-kdr152004

Poink88 · May 21, 2014

kirk@localbonsai.com said:
I'm putting my money on Rhamnus Carthartica ; I invite others to dispute this educated guess.

You mean Rhamnus cathartica. It looks like a positive ID!

GrimLore · May 21, 2014

Poink88 said:
You mean Rhamnus cathartica. It looks like a positive ID!

Sure does, and I would think it could be a nice specimen. This link has the Legal Status on it https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=RHCA3 if interested

Grimmy

Cypress · May 21, 2014

Yea looks like common buckthorn, very cool to see other people with them. It was really hard for me to find anything about them as bonsai when I was researching this past winter. I just collected a really gnarly specimen this spring. It's just pushing buds. Will post pics soon. They will be up in this thread in the next month: http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?13417-Common-Buckthorn-Yamadori-the-beginnings-of-a-journey-(Rhamnus-cathartica)&highlight=buckthorn

Specie Identification Help Please

kirk@localbonsai.com

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