Friday 12 December 2008

Sky Watch Friday/Its starting to look a lot like Christmas (11)

I have no idea what this tree is but its covered in red berries and obviously fruits just before Christmas. If anyone knows what it is, please tell me.
For more Sky Watch from around the world drop in to the home of Sky Watch Friday.

Update - We think its a species of cotoneaster (thanks mum). Its also an invasive weed. Isn't that sad.


NO ITS NOT - they aren't berries, they are flowers, which I think means its a brachychiton aceifolius or Illawarra Flame Tree (which makes a lot more sense, given its location).

16 comments:

Ana said...

Hey, it's a lovely shot, lovely tree too. I also have no clue what this tree is, but is beautiful. Maybe someone knows! Happy swf.

Photo Cache said...

I love the angle where you took this shot. I dont know the name of the tree either.

Louise said...

Pretty, even if it has no identity. The green, green grass is glorious!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Not a clue on the tree but it does make a striking image.

airplane5312 said...

Greetings from Minnesota. Wouldn't it be great to trade seasons between the southern and northern hemisphere sometime? I'd love to experience Christmas during summer sometime, though I'm not sure southerners would feel the same about the converse :)

Anonymous said...

Nice shot of yet to be identified tree. Antipodean Christmas in the sun - that's what I grew up with and I'm not sure the iconic cold and snow is the better deal!

Kay said...

This is such a pretty tree, Ann. I loved Sydney when we traveled there a couple of years ago. Very lovely people and beautiful country.

Anonymous said...

Lovely tree! Really love it! Happy skywatching! :)

http://www.mypreciousniche.com/2008/12/sky-watch-friday.html

Lara said...

wonderful image! the tree is so beautiful!

Julie said...

We have one of these on campus surrounded by agapanthi (??). I looked on the City of Sydney site to try to identify it without luck this morning. Will see what I can find out now ... absolutely teaming with rain.

Julie said...

How about a stenocarpus sinuatus or, for the punters,a firewheel tree?

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sten_sinuatus.jpg

http://asgap.org.au/s-sin.html

The bark looks similar but the leaves dont seem right. Hang on ... had a look at some that I took on campus and it might be right. Shall post them for you over the weekend.

Grammy said...

I Very much enjoyed your beautiful photo.
Have a great sky watch week.
Grammy
Mid Missouri. USA

Ann said...

We think its a species of cotoneaster (thanks mum)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotoneaster

Its also an invasive weed

http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&state=&ibra=all&card=S01

Isn't that sad.

Julie said...

Quite possibly - I can see the similarities. However, the berry on this tree is quite translucent and squishable whereas the cotoneaster is opaque and solid. I am not used to thinking of the cotoneaster as a tree - only ever seen it as a bush. I guess it is a weed because it is European. Joan Elizabeth would agree with that definition. She is trying to teach me to think of a weed as anything that is non-native!

Julie said...

Yep ... yep ... I think you have it, Sherlock. I would go along with an Illawarra Flame Tree judging from the images you have, the one I know on campus and what our old mate Wiki says.

Well sleuthed ...

Julie said...

Know that phenomenon when you get a new car (dress/shoes) and that is all you see for the next two bloody weeks?

Take a look at this: http://titania-yesterdaytodayandtomorrow.blogspot.com/2008/12/australian-native-trees-and-shrubs.html