A bit of help on a mystery sapling...

davidbr · #1 (**permalink**) 24-01-2009, 08:41 PM

Can anyone give me a bit of advice as to what this is - found growing in a fairly ancient wood that's now surrounded by development and, thanks to the presence of the MoD's Abbey Wood headquarters, plenty of planted shrubs & trees within bird-sowing distance!

At first I thought it was just another Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), but somehow it just doesn't look right. My next thought was perhaps Highclere Holly (Ilex x altaclerensis) which must be planted in one of the shrubberies not too far away, but I've never seen the "natural" form of it.

Hedge Witch · #2 (**permalink**) 24-01-2009, 08:43 PM

My first thought is a type of holly.

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 06:19 AM

Looks like a Highclere Holly type to me.

leifus · #4 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Looks like a Highclere Holly type to me.

yeah is this like a hybrid between bay willlow and holly?! it looks like it to me

Hedge Witch · #5 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 08:10 AM

My Collins guide says the Highclere Holly has up to 10 small forward pointing spines on each side of the leaf. I count more than that on some leaves. But it's possible that this description isn't to be taken literally, but as a general rule

Also, I'm guessing this could be another hybrid?

aeshna5 · #6 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leifus

yeah is this like a hybrid between bay willlow and holly?! it looks like it to me

It's a hybrid between our native Holly, Ilex aquifolium + Madeira Holly, I. perado, known as I. x altaclarensis. There are numerous cultivars around in gardens/parks. Often find these hybrids naturalised around London; presumably bird sown.

leifus · #7 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 04:03 PM

ok thanks

I have seen it before and always wondered what it was

davidbr · #8 (**permalink**) 27-01-2009, 05:52 AM

The more I've looked into this one, the more convinced I've become that (unfortunately

) it's nothing more than a young specimen of Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)

As far as I know there aren't any mature Holm Oaks anywhere nearby and I'm just not familiar with the saplings & their leaf structure - there aren't any decent pictures available online either, so I can't be absolutely certain until I find one from somewhere

In the meantime, though, it'll go into my files as another picture of Q. ilex

nakedgardener · #9 (**permalink**) 27-01-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidbr

The more I've looked into this one, the more convinced I've become that (unfortunately

) it's nothing more than a young specimen of Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)

As far as I know there aren't any mature Holm Oaks anywhere nearby and I'm just not familiar with the saplings & their leaf structure - there aren't any decent pictures available online either, so I can't be absolutely certain until I find one from somewhere

In the meantime, though, it'll go into my files as another picture of Q. ilex

Why bother asking for help, if you ignore the advise?

It's a holly hybrid.... but you can label it incorrectly if it makes you happy!

ceterach · #10 (**permalink**) 27-01-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nakedgardener

Why bother asking for help, if you ignore the advise?

It's a holly hybrid.... but you can label it incorrectly if it makes you happy!

David

If nothing else Q.ilex does not have full-on glossy upper leaf surface as those in your picture . Must agree it would be mislabelled.

All the best