THE TREES OF WARWICKSHIRE, COVENTRY AND SOLIHULL PART 4 - SPECIES ACCOUNTS FOR BROADLEAVED TREES (NOTHOFAGUS TO ZELKOVA ) Steven Falk, 2011 London Plane, Stratford on Avon Catalogue of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Trees The trees (alphabetical by scientific name) Nothofagus – Southern Beeches Deciduous and evergreen trees of the northern hemisphere, distantly related to Fagus beeches. They evolved in the southern hemisphere when the ancient continent of Pangaea broke up. About 40 species exist worldwide, and these include some of the dominant trees of South America and Australasia. Some have remained remarkably Fagus –like and even produce similar mast-type fruit, despite millions of years of geographic isolation. The various species found locally are easily distinguished by leaf shape, especially the number of veins. Barton House, Barton on the Heath, has a particularly fine collection (seven species in 2007). Nothofagus antarctica – Antarctic Beech Source: S America from Chile to Cape Horn. Introduced to Britain in 1830. Distribution: Scattered specimens in a suprising variety of locations. Further Notes: A very distinctive tree at all ages with tiny, deciduous leaves about 2-3cm long and typically with just 4 pairs of veins and 4 corresponding blunt lobes on each side of the leaf. The young bark is smooth, shiny grey with horizontal stripes like some cherries. It can become a medium-sized, though rather gaunt tree in time, though most local specimens are young. Key locations for seeing some: Brueton Park, Solihull (several in various places, largest 0.70m GBH/2007); Nuneaton town centre (several in front of Council House, Coton Rd); Warwick University (a relatively large, multistemmed one in the Westwood Campus); Ragley Hall Gardens (a very young one); Rock Mill Arboretum, Milverton (a young one); Warwick Castle (a couple in the car park); Compton Wynyates (one in meadow beside main entrance, 0.61m GBH/2007); Keresley House, Coventry (a young one); Barton House, Barton on the Heath (young); Arbury Hall (in private arboretum). Largest local specimen: Warwick University, Westwood Campus (largest of three stems 0.95m @ 60cm/2007). Nothofagus cunninghamia – Myrtle Beech Source: Tasmania. Date of introduction to Britain unknown. Distribution: Rare locally. Further Notes: This species has some of the smallest leaves of any Nothofagus , about 1cm long and rounded. Key locations for seeing some: Young ones at Keresley House, Coventry and Barton House, Barton on the Heath. Nothofagus dombeyi – Coigüe Source: S America (S central Andes). Introduced to Britain in 1916. Distribution: Rare locally. Further Notes: The leathery, shiny leaves are much smaller than N. obliqua and N. nervosa but more triangular than N. antarctica . It can produce a large and attractive tree in time. Key locations for seeing some: Young ones at Keresley House, Coventry and Barton House, Barton on the Heath. 1 Catalogue of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Trees Foliage of our three most frequent southern beeches, Antarctic Beech (left), Roble Beech (middle) and Rauli (right) in a sequence that shows progressively increasing leaf size and number of leaf veins. Nothofagus fusca – Red Beech Source: New Zealand. Introduced to Britain in about 1910. Distribution: Rare locally. Further Notes: Rather birch-like, but semi-evergreen foliage, which can give an autumn flush of copper colour, but also producing colourful dying leaves at other times of the year. The mature bark becomes flaky. Key locations for seeing some: Rock Mill Arboretum, Milverton (recent planting by D. Howells). Nothofagus menziesii – Silver Beech Source: New Zealand. Introduced to Britain in about 1850. Distribution: Rare locally and nationally. Further Notes: A small-leaved Nothofagus , most resembling the more familiar N. antarctica but with different lobing of the leaf margins. Key locations for seeing some: Barton House, Barton on the Heath (a young one). Nothofagus nervosa – Rauli Source: S America (southern Andes). Introduced to Britain in 1910. Distribution: Rare locally. Further Notes: A fast growing conical tree with leaves somewhat like a hornbeam and with many more veins than Roble Beech N. obliqua (15-18 pairs as opposed to 6-11). Known as N. procera until recently. Key locations for seeing some: Warwick Castle (one in Fox’s Study near the Bird of Prey Enclosure, 0.90m GBH/2007); Warwick University (some in zone 7, teste D. Howell); Luddington Horticultural Centre in water meadow (teste Pam Copson, 1980s). 2 Catalogue of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Trees Nothofagus obliqua – Roble Beech Source: S Andes of Argentina and Chile. Introduced to Britain by 1902, possibly earlier. Distribution: Occasional in local parks, golf courses and larger gardens. Further Notes: A rather hornbeam-like species, the leaves typically with 8–11 pairs of veins and a similar number of corresponding blunt lobes on each side of the leaf. The slender branches tend to weep strongly and older specimens can become attractive, slim trees with cascading foliage. It can produce fine autumn colours. Key locations for seeing some: Warwick: Priory Park (a fine one near the main entrance) and Warwick Castle (a large one in grounds north of castle walls); Jephson Gardens (one near the main entrance – has been incorrectly referred to as N. procera in some lists); Kingsbury Water Park (along Bodymoor Heath Lane close to the main entrance); Brueton Park, Solihull (several); Allesley Park, Coventry (several); Stratford Golf Course (many fine ones in an avenue at SE end); Coughton Court (a couple in field in front of house); Middleton Hall (a fine one at end of drive near car parks, 1.79m GBH/2006); Coton House near Rugby (one amongst buildings 1.21m GBH/2007); Crewe Lane Arboretum, Kenilworth; Talton House near Newbold on Stour (a young one); Oversley Wood (several in the arboretum zone). Largest local specimen: Warwick Castle 1.94m GBH/2009. Nothofagus procera – the old name for N. nervosa Nothofagus solanderi – Black Beech Source: New Zealand. Introduced to Britain by 1917. Distribution: Rare locally and nationally. Further Notes: The small leaves are arranged in flat sprays and have unlobed leaf margins in contrast to other locally-found Nothofagus species. They are very glossy above but dull-grey below. Key locations for seeing some: Barton House, Barton on the Heath (young). Nyssa sylvatica – Tupelo (Black Gum) Source: N America from Ontario to NE Mexico, where it favours waterlogged areas. Introduced to Britain in 1750. Distribution: Very occasional in local gardens and parks. Further Notes: A large and attractive deciduous tree when mature, producing some wonderful autumn golds and reds. The tree made the news in 2005, when a Tupelo-dominated wetland in Arkansas was found to harbour a population of the spectacular Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a bird that had been considered extinct for over half a century. The leaves are rather bay-like and the minute flowers give rise to small black berries. Key locations for seeing some: Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa (a young memorial tree near to the Westfelton Yew); Rock Mill Arboretum, Milverton (recent planting by D. Howells); Crewe Lane Arboretum, Kenilworth (a young one); Ilmington Manor (a young one); Arbury Hall (a couple of small ones in private gardens/lakes). The bushier Chinese Tupelo N. sinensis may be present at Radway Grange (on the site’s tree list but not found on a 2007 visit). 3 Catalogue of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Trees Olea europaea – Olive Source: Probably originating in SW Asia and Arabia, but long cultivated throughout the Mediterranean and occasionally in Britain. Distribution: Rare locally. Further Notes: A rather privet-like, evergreen, shrubby tree that struggles to grow in Britain, where it is most typically cultivated in pots. The familiar, edible fruit are the source of olive oil and many varieties exist, with fruit of varying size, colour and taste. Some of the oldest trees in the Mediterranean are estimated to be more than two thousand years old. Key locations for seeing some: unpotted ones at Keresley House, Coventry and Barton House, Barton on the Heath (the latter one producing fruit). A young Olive at Keresley House (left). Foliage and flowers of an Osmanthus at Jephson Gardens (right). Osmanthus delavayi – Chinese Holly (Delavay’s Osmanthus) and its hybrids. Source: China. Introduced to Europe from 1890. Distribution: Seemingly scarce locally. Further Notes: An evergreen shrub somewhat resembling a privet or phillyrea growing to 6-7metres. It produces masses of sweetly-scented white trumpet-shaped flowers in spring. Burkwood Osmanthus O. x burkwodii is a hybrid between O. delavayi and another Asian species O. decorus . Key locations for seeing some: Delavay’s: Keresley House. Burkwood: War Memorial Park, Coventry (a fine one by the sunken garden, determined by O. Johnson based on images). Unchecked: Jephson Gardens (a fine one in west side, adjacent to Newbold Terrace). 4 Catalogue of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Trees Osmanthus heterophyllus – Holly-leaved Osmanthus Source: Japan. Introduced to Britain in 1856. Distribution: Rare locally. Further Notes: An evergreen shrub with spiny leaves that area a little reminiscent of Holly Ilex aquifolium . It produces masses of sweetly scented flowers in the autumn. Form ‘Aureomarginatus’ has the leaf margins deep yellow. Key locations for seeing some: Rock Mill Arboretum, Milverton (recent planting of ‘Aureomarginatus’ by D. Howells); Keresley House, Coventry (‘Aureomarginatus’