The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Tree, Plant and Wood I.D. => Topic started by: Murky on September 03, 2016, 11:37:20 PM

Title: Need help identifying a tree, northeastern Illinois
Post by: Murky on September 03, 2016, 11:37:20 PM
I just moved this summer and this tree is in my front yard. I'm really curious what it is, but I haven't had any success trying to find it in my tree books or elsewhere online. I really love the shape of the tree and the way its trunks are branched out. And now that these pods started appearing the last few weeks, I'm also curious how much of a messy cleanup I'm going to have this fall  :D. I've only been here since June, so if it flowered, it was before I was here to see it so I have no idea about any flowers.

The tree is about 25' tall and wider than it is tall, in the Chicago area.

Leaves are up to 6" long, up to 3" wide, and usually a bit wider towards the top, alternating on the stem. They feel somewhat leathery and like they have a very fine hairy feel to the top of the leaf. There is no milky or white substance from the leaves at all if you break one.

The fruit or nuts or whatevers are fuzzy and form singly, not in clusters, not sticky at all. On older branches though they can sprout at every leaf joint.

Thanks for any help.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43799/DSC01427b~0.JPG)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43799/DSC01435b.JPG)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43799/DSC01439b.JPG)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43799/DSC01438b.JPG)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43799/DSC01437b.JPG)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43799/DSC01429b.JPG)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43799/DSC01428b.JPG)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43799/DSC01440b.JPG)
Title: Re: Need help identifying a tree, northeastern Illinois
Post by: Murky on September 04, 2016, 10:18:29 PM
This morning I opened my bedroom drapes to see this:

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43799/DSC01444b.JPG)

So I'm pretty certain it's some type of pink/white flowered magnolia tree, which I'm absolutely thrilled about.  Hopefully this bud will open this fall and I can get some good pics of the flower to help ID which magnolia.
Title: Re: Need help identifying a tree, northeastern Illinois
Post by: Ianab on September 05, 2016, 01:57:13 AM
Sure looks like a Magnolia of some sort, but exactly what species has me beat.  ???
Title: Re: Need help identifying a tree, northeastern Illinois
Post by: WDH on September 05, 2016, 07:51:37 AM
Magnolia japonica, japanese magnolia.

Title: Re: Need help identifying a tree, northeastern Illinois
Post by: Murky on September 05, 2016, 01:04:00 PM
Thanks.  I had found this one, Rustica Rubra Magnolia, (https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/magnolia-%C3%97-soulangeana-rustica-rubra) even the bark is the same.  And when I search for your terms, I end up with a lot of various saucer and tulip magnolias.  I take it there are many cultivars or varieties of Japanese Magnolias?
Title: Re: Need help identifying a tree, northeastern Illinois
Post by: WDH on September 05, 2016, 08:27:54 PM
Not sure how many varieties there are of japanese magnolia, but that is what you have.