[SOLVED] Unknown and needing POSITIVE I.D.

[Damian Bee]

This is developing into something like a murder mystery Daan daan daaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnn....

[MattA]

I will hunt further and keep at the door knocking. I will watch the tree further for fruiting or flowering. The local Nursery man went for a look and said Pistachio but when we compared the two leaves they were very different albeit the same pattern. He thinks it might be a very old Pistachio but the tree is only 3-4 metres. I WILL FIND OUT

It is entirely possible he is right... age does not always relate to size... especially where growing conditions are not good...There was a paddock of Pistachio planted at Burkes Flat in the 80's, after 20+yrs they still had not reach 3mtrs tall nor flowered... they would grow a little then stall & die back then grow a little more & repeat...

[bodhidharma]

I have been on the case of this I.D and have scoured the information available to no avail. This morning i was reading an Edition of The 5th International Bonsai and Suiseki Exhibition and..lo and behold.. i think i have stalked my quarry to the ground. Not 100% but i am pretty sure it is a Rhus Succedanea also known as Scarlet Rhus and Japanese Wax Tree. It was a lovely Bonsai.Apparently noted for turning in Autumn from green to red to scarlet. It makes an impressive Bonsai and will be well worth the effort of locating and acquiring one. If the owner of the tree i am eyeballing ever surfaces and confirms or denies this I.D it will be the closest i can get without bringing in the D.N.A experts.

[MattA]

I have been on the case of this I.D and have scoured the information available to no avail. This morning i was reading an Edition of The 5th International Bonsai and Suiseki Exhibition and..lo and behold.. i think i have stalked my quarry to the ground. Not 100% but i am pretty sure it is a Rhus Succedanea also known as Scarlet Rhus and Japanese Wax Tree. It was a lovely Bonsai.Apparently noted for turning in Autumn from green to red to scarlet. It makes an impressive Bonsai and will be well worth the effort of locating and acquiring one. If the owner of the tree i am eyeballing ever surfaces and confirms or denies this I.D it will be the closest i can get without bringing in the D.N.A experts.

Hey Bodhi,

Sorry to say but the hunt will continue for you, Rhus (now known as Toxicodendron succedanea) have a single leaflet at the end of the stem where yours has 2.

Could you take a photo of the whole tree and a close up of the bark too? Also, do you know what colour the new growth is in spring?

Matt

[LLK]

Regardless of whether your mystery tree is the Rhus succedanea (Toxicodendron) or not, since the bonsai image you saw is a Japanese wax, why don't you start your own bonsai of that? (If you can find it, since it's a declared noxious weed, and according to Burke the most dangerous tree in Oz.) Then, when you finally discover the true id. of your mystery tree, you can always start that a second bonsai.

[MattA]

Regardless of whether your mystery tree is the Rhus succedanea (Toxicodendron) or not, since the bonsai image you saw is a Japanese wax, why don't you start your own bonsai of that? (If you can find it, since it's a declared noxious weed, and according to Burke the most dangerous tree in Oz.) Then, when you finally discover the true id. of your mystery tree, you can always start that a second bonsai.

I like this idea... and have some cuttings underway I could send you late winter.

One for you too Lisa if you would like

Matt

[bodhidharma]

I like this idea... and have some cuttings underway I could send you late winter.

One for you too Lisa if you would like

Matt[/quote]

Cuttings...Cuttings you say..my good man, i am gonna find me a tree and dig it up. Maybe the one in question as they are never home to answer their door Seriously though, i am going to ask them very politely (if i ever contact them) if i can do a layer.

[MattA]

Cuttings...Cuttings you say..my good man, i am gonna find me a tree and dig it up. Maybe the one in question as they are never home to answer their door Seriously though, i am going to ask them very politely (if i ever contact them) if i can do a layer.

They are most probably melbournites who use it once in a while.. I say midnight dig it

[bodhidharma]

The tree has been confirmed by the owner as a Rhus..Japanese Wax Tree and i am now waiting to do a layer of it.