Strange trees on Horsetail Ridge
Re: Strange trees on Horsetail Ridge
Yeah, now I see it. They must be chinquapin. Unusual for them to be that size in that area - they don't even grow on the Washington side of the Gorge.
- Splintercat
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Re: Strange trees on Horsetail Ridge
I'm going to vote rhododendron. They can definitely grow into small trees in the right conditions (especially where they don't suffer from heavy snowfall, as they're brittle). When I look at this enlarged view, the leaves are in whorls, which seems to rule out chinquapin (which grow in alternate form):
Chinkapin, for comparison:
The chinquapin leaves are narrow and strap-like, whereas native rhody leaves are long ovals.
My two cents!
Chinkapin, for comparison:
The chinquapin leaves are narrow and strap-like, whereas native rhody leaves are long ovals.
My two cents!
Re: Strange trees on Horsetail Ridge
Who says anybody gets to vote?
Not a small tree, not a rhodie, trust me.
Or if you don't trust me, here are some close ups.
This shot was taken from the top of a 20-foot high rock outcrop. This tree, which was not the largest, I would estimate at 50 - 60 feet. -payslee
Not a small tree, not a rhodie, trust me.
Or if you don't trust me, here are some close ups.
This shot was taken from the top of a 20-foot high rock outcrop. This tree, which was not the largest, I would estimate at 50 - 60 feet. -payslee
- Splintercat
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Re: Strange trees on Horsetail Ridge
I DO trust you, Payslee... but now it's... BOTANICAL SMACKDOWN!!!
Okay, so both of your shots look like golden chinquapin to me, too -- and BTW, spellchecker just changed that to "qu", not me -- I was going with the flow..! But Karl's foliage shot looks like a rhodie, not a chinquapin... to me, anyway.
Here are some chinquapin shots from below Green Point Mountain (for more comparables):
This one was in the 50-60 foot range, too -- and I've seen several that size in the greater Hood River drainage, where they seem to thrive. But Karl's photo... rhody, and I'm sticking to it! I wonder if it might be a rhodie growing UNDER a chinquapin...? Hmmm....
Tom
Okay, so both of your shots look like golden chinquapin to me, too -- and BTW, spellchecker just changed that to "qu", not me -- I was going with the flow..! But Karl's foliage shot looks like a rhodie, not a chinquapin... to me, anyway.
Here are some chinquapin shots from below Green Point Mountain (for more comparables):
This one was in the 50-60 foot range, too -- and I've seen several that size in the greater Hood River drainage, where they seem to thrive. But Karl's photo... rhody, and I'm sticking to it! I wonder if it might be a rhodie growing UNDER a chinquapin...? Hmmm....
Tom