Thank you Jerilee Wei for identifying a tree

1. 78

   Bard of Elyposted 16 years ago

   I have recently published a hub about the strange copper-coloured trees I have found on the island but could not identify from books or searching online but Jerilee has just come up with the solution by suggesting the trees are a type of Manzanita. I searched online using that as a keyword and the Wikipedia entry has confirmed that this is indeed what they are.
   
   Is this the first time a hub has been used to identify a botanical specimen I wonder?
   
   Anyway, thanks again to Jerilee!

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2. 70

   Jerilee Weiposted 16 years ago

   If alive, my grandmother would be very amused.  Guess it paid off growing up in the American west and her dragging us to flower shows and gardening club activities throughout our childhood.  Some manzanita is actually a very interesting wood and some speciies are extremely endangered.  Glad to be of help.

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   1. 78

      Bard of Elyposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, as I found out in Wikipedia there are very rare species and some types that grow as trees. The only type I knew was the short Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi). What is very interesting to me about this is that Tree Heather (Erica arborea) and Strawberry Trees (Arbutus canariensis), which are also in the Ericaceae, grow very well in the area too.
      
      I know from previous studies that the Bearberry is ruled by Mars in astrology so this is yet another plant growing here with the same planetary ruler - Dragon Trees and Euphorbia/spurges (of which there are many endemic and introduced types) are under the dominion of the Red Planet too and all flourish on the island. Up on Mt Teide it looks like Mars!

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3. 79

   JamaGeneeposted 16 years ago

   Wow, Steve...  A tree you couldn't identify.  How did that happen?
   
   Well, no matter.  The important thing is you know what it is now (and much more).  Let me add my thanks to Jerilee too!  Bravo!

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   1. 78

      Bard of Elyposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, JamaGenee!
      
      My problem on this island is that whilst I can see what family a plant is in I don't know the species because they are so often foreign plants to me. I have an excellent knowledge of the UK flora but had to start again when I got here and there are very many non endemic plants and trees also on the island from all over the world. This would be one of these I think.

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      1. 79

         JamaGeneeposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         I'm assuming the seeds of the non-endemic plants and trees arrived there on the wind or stowed away on a ship, correct?

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