mike151 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 This large tree is on the edge of our land in a forest, the leaves are almost identical to that of a Mountain Ash, the fruit is small (about the size of a conker) and tastes sweet and the flesh is like a pear. Does anyone know what it is ???????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterG Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Do yiou have a photo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Is it a quince tree ? Be very careful of eating anything until you know what it is [:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raindog Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Dosen't sound like a quince tree. Quince are impossible to eat without being cooked (the only fruit?) and are normally much bigger than conkers.I'm intrigued - is it bearing fruit at the moment? Seems a bit late.Does anyone else here have a neflier? Ours are in bloom right now - they look great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markgalliott Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 This sounds very much like a True Service Tree-Sorbus domestica which has small pear shaped reddish fruits which are edible. The leaves are very similar to the Rowan-Sorbus acuparia. Rowan only grows on acid soils, whilst S. domestica prefers limestone or other base rich rocks. It is a very rare native in the UK (identified for the first time in 1993), but in France is not uncommon in the right habitat.I hope this helps.Mark G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 It sounds like the same type of tree we have in our garden, which was laden with fruit until a month ago. The fruit was round, golden yellow with a pinkish tinge, and very soft, with no stone, and about the size of a mirabelle.We asked our neighbour what the fruit was, and he said frêne. I checked it in the dictionary, it means ash, and it does look like an ash tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Well done Mark! That's our tree alright, growing on a limestone outcrop with just a smattering of soil. I've checked some photos of the sorbus domestica, and they are spot-on.http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=Sorbus+domestica+&gbv=2&ndsp=20&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&start=0&sa=NDon't know if the OP's tree is the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raindog Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Fascinating! You learn summat everyday here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike151 Posted November 8, 2007 Author Share Posted November 8, 2007 we do have a photo but cant seam to post it up here, but the 3rd picture on cat.s post is identical. the tree had green fruits on in august . when i looked last month they were a russet colour & some had fallen off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 I think they've pretty much all fallen by now, I've been fishing them out out the swimming pool for the last month . But nice know the fruits are edible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 This is fascinating. You can introduce your French friends to a drink called "Chequers".http://www.british-trees.com/guide/wildservicetree.htmHoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 I've just found out that in French the tree is called un sorbier http://www.vertdeterre.com/nature/vegetal/arfiche.php?nom=sorbier%20domestiqueApparently the Romans used to make a cider-like drink from it, and the sweetener Sorbitol takes its name from it [geek]My my, you live and learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markgalliott Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 HoddyThe article you highlight actually refers to the Wild Service Tree-Sorbus torminalis (not S. domestica). This is a similar but much more common species in the UK (& France) and grows mainly in ancient woodland. It has smaller harder brownish berries while the leaves have only 3-5 paired lobes.Mark G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 That is such a disappointment Mark.I got quite carried away and looked it up in Richard Mabey's 'Flora Britannica" and was going to post some recipes for a drink made from the fruit.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike151 Posted March 23, 2008 Author Share Posted March 23, 2008 we planted the seeds in a greenhouse last nov & have now got 50 young trees on their 1st set of propper leaves i discovered yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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