summer tree ident walk

[thomas_3rd]

so been workin as a national trust volunteer on the lizard for abit now, (had thousands of unread post on here to catch up on) and have been asked to help out on a summer tree ident walk with one of the wardens. been for a stroll around and come up with a list of quite a few;

Pinus sylvestris

Pinus radiata

Populus alba

Salix caprea

Alnus glutinsa

Alnus rubra

Carpinus betulus

Corylus avellana

Fagus sylvatica

Castanea sativa

Quercus petraea

Quercus robur

Quercus ilex

Ulmus minor

Ulmus minor var. cornubiensis

Crataegus monogina

Sorbus aria

Sorbus aucuparia

Ilex aquifolium

Acer campestre

Acer pseudoplatanus

Aesculus hippocastanum

Tillia platyphyllos

Tillia cordata

Tamarix gallica

Luma apiculata

Arbutus undeo

Fraxinus excelsior

Sambucus nigra

 

soooooooooo, after that long list, can anyone help me out with any interesting facts, folklaw, ledgends, ways to remember the latin, easy peasy ident tips.... anything really on the above trees to make the day a more enjoyable, funny, happy one, as opposed to the extremely teadious weekend ive just had on a wild flower course:thumbup1:

[Ian Leach]

Pinus sylvestris -Healing :- Pine has been recognised as a powerful bronchial disinfectant, very effective when used as an inhailant to ease breathing problems, pine needles boiled in vinigar were once reputed to revieve toothache when packed around the tooth or the liquid swilled around the mouth.

 

Physical uses- there are lots of products collected from pine. It's resinwas once used sealing wax and to improve violin bows by adding resonance to there sound.

It was used to coat the insides of beer casks and was known as brewers pitch.

 

The scots pine is prolific in britain. It is unique in that it is the sole northern European pine to have survived the ice age. however our great pine forests of yesteryear are but a memory, for man has taken heavily for his needs.

[thomas_3rd]

thats brilliant, exactly the kinda knowledge im wanting to pass across to members of the public and other volunteers. the last few days have been on stock grazing, and ive found it tough at some points listering to the way grazing has demolished the forests of this country, both from stock and 'game'

 

should have tried them needles out on me tooth ache the other day!

[Ian Leach]

One of my favourate trees - Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan) :- Rowan wood is very tough. In the past it was used for ship masts and for polls and whips. The bark and fruit of rowan can be used to dye wool black. The bark is also used for tanning.

 

The rowan was known as the 'fowlers service tree' for its berrieswere used as a lure to catch birds. When times were hard in the lands and corn was short, rowan berries (without seed as poisonous to children) were ground and used as a substitute for flour. They can also be used along with crab apples in jellies and chutneys. Rowan jelly, which goes with lamb, pork and game dishes can be made in late summer.

The rowan is generally considered the feminine equivalent of the ash tree, and in Scandinavian myth the first woman was born from rowan and the first man from ash.