A bit of fun: what's this?

[Eric The Viking]

Ever wonder what it looks like whilst it's still growing? I do.

Anyway, a fortnight ago, I was wandering through a greenhouse in an arbouretum in Los Angeles (as you do), and I happened across this:

But what is it?

Clues:
1. It's a South/Central American species. It's something everyone's heard of.
2. The leaves are about 2" long.
3. It's quite prized in the UK by woodworkers, although its uses are a bit limited.
4. There was a train of ants going up the left side of the trunk. Not sure if that counts as a clue, but it's the reason I didn't want to get any closer.

Hint: It's not balsa.

:?

E.

PS: Sorry about the rubbish pictures - it was a bit dark in there.

 

[AndyT]

Is it the tree that has those funny perforated nuts that turners like? (Ooer Missus! )

 

[Eric The Viking]

Nope - leastways, I don't think so.

The wood is useful though - allegedly.

 

[Owl]

I know it sounds strange but is it a Chinese myrtle ?

 

[Racers]

Lignum vitae.

Pete

 

[Eric The Viking]

Well that lasted ages.

The tree with the non-latin name that is, er, a latin name.

Well done, Pete. Next time, no clues!

E.

 

[Racers]

Sorry Eric, I am usually good at not getting them I don't know what came over me.



Pete

 

[Eric The Viking]

Heck no - that was brilliant.

I read its name plate and thought, "Flipping eck! I'd not have guessed that in a million years." As I said, the ants rather put me off getting any closer, and I think I was right on min. focus for the lens I was using anyway, so it wasn't a great picture.

That trunk was about 5-6" across, but it looks like it grows as a bush, i.e. with several 'trunks' from one plant, rather than one dominant one.

Good call!

 

[dickm]

Dunno if Lignum has the same genetics, but quite a lot of acacia species have symbiotic ants in special structures on their branches. The ants live in these, and come roaring out to defend the tree (and their home) against invaders. They'd definitely regard a Viking as an invader .
The ant/acacia symbiosis is one of the classic examples in biology teaching - Dan Jantzen made a video about it for us in about 1980.

 

[SammyQ]

"Dan Jantzen made a video about it "...I remember it well! He managed to make entomology attractive, back in the 80's.

Sam

 

[AndyT]

I do like the way this forum has so many proper experts tucked away behind the woodwork!

We'd make an unstoppable pub quiz team...

 

[Racers]

I do like the way this forum has so many proper experts tucked away behind the woodwork!

We'd make an unstoppable pub quiz team...

Unless the question was about sharpening!

Pete

 

[bugbear]

I do like the way this forum has so many proper experts tucked away behind the woodwork!

We'd make an unstoppable pub quiz team...

Unless the question was about sharpening!

Pete

Yeah - the team discussion about the right answer would still be going at chucking out time...

BugBear