Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

A Mystery

This is brand new Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) leaf, pinky-nail-sized, still to unfold into its characteristic mitten-like shape. That was the extent of early spring growth on these giants of our forest one weeks ago, so when I noticed a patch of rich green way up on a branch of a mature specimen of this species:I wondered what it could be. Because it was so high, this is the best picture I could manage. In the binoculars, this looked small-leaved, not unlike parsley. Any idea what it might be?

(For possible answers, check out the comments below.)

mthew

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6 responses to “A Mystery”

  1. Roger Latour

    Anthriscus sylvestris, Chervil seems the most likely.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Guess we’d have to catch it in bloom, since the cow parsley, another name for A. sylvestris, has those distinctive flowers. But I wonder…

      Reply
      1. mthew

        What I meant to say before I woke up was: have you seen A. sylvestris way up on a tree limb, looking like an epiphyte?

      2. Roger Latour

        Not in a tree but high in some roting wood structure, yes. The plant grows anywhere and usually in colonies. On the photograph : last year’s dried flower stalk are still present and suggest Apiaceae Family. Early spring basal leaf rosette also indicates Anthriscus… Could also be Anthriscus cerefolium. But we would need close-up of leaves!

      3. mthew

        This branch of this mature tree is nearly horizontal, and I can imagine some rotten wood up there. Fascinating.

        You’ve probably heard about the whole ecosystems found high in atop the redwoods, including salamanders.

  2. Karen

    I was gonna guess mugwort because of the hint of silvery underside of leaves, but hard to really see because it’s so far away and a complete guess. (I tend to think every weed is mugwort though right now.) Loved that book The Wild Trees about the redwoods and ecosystems found there. Happy spring wanderings.

    Reply

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