Laburnum

[davidbr]

Is anyone familiar with Scotch Laburnum, Laburnum alpinum, and could tell me whether that's what this plant could be?

The leaves were completely hairless, shiny above, and that & the racemes seem to match L. alpinum, but I could use a second opinion



Thanks

[pleb]

Hi David,

There is useful information regarding Laburnum anagyroides, L. alpinum and the hybrid between them L. x watereri at http://www.bsbi.org.uk/Laburnum.pdf which might help you.

The Vegetative Key to the British Flora says:

L. alpinum: Leaflets hairless or with sparse long (0.4-0.7 mm) adpressed hairs on veins below. Petiole hairless.

L. x watereri: Leaflets with sparse long (0.4-0.7 mm) adpressed hairs below, (especially on veins), hairless above. Petiole sparsely adpressed hairy.

I hope this helps. Stace says that the hybrid is now more commonly planted than either species but much less or never self-sown due to sterility.

Pleb