Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Travelog Europe: Trees I visited

Botanicals I observed and photographed in Rennes, France while I was attending the 2009 International Ethological Conference.


A Catalpa or cigar fruit tree. These are also in the States. I've seen them in the Midwest.
Thabor Park, Rennes
As I explored Tabor Park, I realized there were many trees from many regions of the world - the US and Asia.
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A Magnolia tree, also in the US. It is the state tree of Mississippi and common throughout the south, but I have also seen them in the mid-west, though not as abundant.
Thabor Park, Rennes

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This trees's branches were so heavy that the understory felt like it was dark outside. The berries of the tree really stood out from the dark rich green evergreen needle-leaves. I tasted the berry. It was very juicy and very sweet. I didn't swallow it because I wasn't sure it was safe, but I liked the taste, almost like candy.
War Veterans Memorial Park, Rennes
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This was one ugly tree, and I don't normally like to call trees ugly. The fruits and branches were just unlike anything I had seen before. But it was impressive. I sat underneath this tree for a while.
War Veterans Memorial Park, Rennes
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I was pleasantly surprised to see this tree species - the Mimosa, known by it's fluffy light pink flowers and pinnate shaped leaves. Fallen, decaying flowers on the ground
War Veterans Memorial Park, Rennes

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Tall pine tree with up-right fruits - pine cones.
Close-up of this pine cone. Notice the clear sticky sap dripping from it.
Thabor Park, Rennes
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A Gingko tree
near Saint Anne, Rennes

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This was an odd-growing tree. It seemed to be all brambles and then you look up and notice a very tall and straight trunk in the middle of all of that.
Thabor Park, Rennes

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An oak tree full of growing acorn fruits. It must be mast time in this part of the world. I don't remember seeing any acorns last fall in the States. This oak tree is just dripping withe fruits.
Thabor Park, Rennes
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I came all the way to France to see the mythic proportions American tree - the Giant Sequioa


My sunset picture. I was playing with angles and light position. I really like how it turned out.
Thabor Park, Rennes

5 comments:

  1. I always wondered where the word Catalpa came from. Didn't know it was a tree. It's the name of a street somewhere I used to live.

    Also didn't know the pink feathery leaf tree was a Mimosa. I always thought is was a nuisance but the name gives me a better appreciation for it now.

    What is meant by "mast time"?

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  2. Probably a good call not swallowing that yew (Taxus) fruit - the fruit itself is not dangerous but the seed (and foliage) is extremely poisonous!

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  3. Mast time: means when nuts, all mature and fall altogether. The idea is that since animals eat these seeds, the trees produce more than enough -for the animals to eat, some thatjust won't grow, get crushed, etc - that still there willbe plenty to survive to make new trees.

    Masting normally occurs in cycles, every few years or so.

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  4. Thanks Neil for the details, I'm not surprised. That's why I only taste, never swallow or ingest.

    Incidentally, I feel just fine no side effects.

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  5. The tree with the big, sticky cones... it looks like an Atlas cedar to me. The first time I saw one I was so impressed that I had to take a cone: http://www.treeblog.co.uk/viewpost.php?id=163

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