Mystery Tree

[WhiskyBottle]

I've put this here because I think it's a tree or bush. Anyone know what it is.



It really was that yellow. Growing on unimproved limestone grassland near a hawthorn, mid April.

Also available in green (there was only one yellow one)



Thanks

[The Woodman]

I think it's a Beech seedling.

[WhiskyBottle]

Thanks for the quick reply. There would certainly be beech in the woods further down the slope.

[diggleken]

Agree with Woodman - this may help too - one I prepared earlier!

Cheers
Ken

[The Woodman]

That's a clincher, Ken. The nut still binding the two leaves together and the leaves from last year on the ground!

Leads to another question...Is Beechmast the whole fruiting body including the case and nuts or just the nut or the other way round?

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

That's a clincher, Ken. The nut still binding the two leaves together and the leaves from last year on the ground!

Leads to another question...Is Beechmast the whole fruiting body including the case and nuts or just the nut or the other way round?

Never thought about it that deeply! Always think the mast is the whole lot on the ground, ready for pigs and squirrels etc to do their thing with, to get at the nut inside the mast.
Ready for it to rot down in a damp shady place and get some nice interesting fungi like beechmast candlesnuff!
Cheers
Ken

[bigdave60dog]

Yep, Go for beech as well. I never saw beech seedlings untill I was an adult as they don`t seem to produce viable seed in Warwicks.
I was amazed last week when I found a beech seedling in the North Highlands.
Just emerging among the bird sown seedlings that are so abundant after being stratified by the last two winters severe frosts. How it came to be bird sown I have no idea.
Dave

[WhiskyBottle]

Thanks everyone. It's Beech then, but wht bright yellow! all the others were green, and it looks healthy.

[Dorts]

The 'yellow seedling' would not survive as it is unable to make any chlorophyll.
For many years I lived on th edge of a Beechwood and these yellow or sometimes white seedlings would occur every year; just natural variation. I would keep an eye on them, but after about 6-9 months they always died.
Dorts.