Platanus x hispanica - London plane

Platanus x hispanica - London plane

I found this Platanus in longford park. It can reach heights of 12 meters and higher. London plane has a high tolerance towards air pollution and can grow in poor soils which is why its a typical urban tree that gets planted along side of roads and streets in towns and cities

 It has a thick robust trunk

 It is one of the few trees that can be easily identified by its bark; looks like camouflage, is greyish brown and flakes small round pieces that drop off to reveal yellowish brown patches.

 The buds are round, green, fleshy and a rounded tip, at the base you can spot the old leaf scar where last years leaves have grown out from.

Leaves are light green with five pointed lobes at the tips also has smaller ones on the edges. They appear late at the end of may to the beginning of June.

Quercus robur - English Oak

Quercus robur - English Oak

I found this quercus in whitworth park adjacent oxford road. The tree is relatively young and small judging by the girth of its trunk and is currently in good health. English oaks are common throughout Europe, they can grow to monumental sizes and live to hundreds of years.

The bark is grey and finely cracked 

The leaves are short in length growing up to a few inches, they have very deep lobes with two miniature lobes pointing backwards at the base.

 The leaves grow in small clumps.

We can tell that this Quercus is male by observing the catkins closely, they form short light green clusters that emerge in May, the females catkins are shorter and have tiny flowers.

 The twigs/branches are knobbly.

Fagus Sylvatica - Beech

Fagus Sylvatica - Beech

I found these beech trees in Longford park, its an impressive tree thats known for its strength and the furniture that gets produced from it. Beech trees can grow up to 30 - 40 meters high with a huge spreading crown and now can be found in many European countries. Its flowering season starts from april to may. This particular specimen is growing healthily and has spread its species around it.

Prefers well drained acidic soils.

Round and robust trunk.

Its bark is grey and smooth, mostly green with algae and becomes flakey when adult.

The twigs are brown and has long narrow brown pointed buds.

Its leaves are shiny, pointed and oval shaped. They are dark green and start turning brown in autumn.

Hedera Helix - Ivy

Hedera Helix - Ivy

Hedera Helix is common all around Europe, I found this one just outside Piccadilly station, Ivy is a climbing plant that relies on another object or plant to grow up on, its capable of reaching heights of up to 20 meters high (rarely higher) it grows like this because it has aerial roots which cling to other surfaces and can be tough to pull off. Ivy can be a nuisance to gardeners because it grows rapidly and colonises.

It has pinnate leaves that have 5 lobes on each leaf.

Adult hedera don't have lobes anymore so the leaf becomes heart shaped.

The stems are smooth, shiny and fleshy, its colour can range from red to purple. Here are examples of its aerial roots systems.

When ivy reaches its maturity, its stems turn into trunks and its surfaces becomes covered with bark that has a rough and coarse texture.

Cornus Alba - Dogwood

Cornus Alba - Dogwood

I found this dogwood in the Longford park. Cornus alba is a deciduous shrub and (in the best growing conditions) can grow up to 3 meters tall, it has a round crown and its stems dissipate from the ground, its a seasonal plant; the stems turn different colours in the year, in the winter they turn red and in the spring they turn green.

 Each leaf are simple entire leaves.

Stems turn red in the winter. Has two lateral buds that grow just above the leaf

Cornus alba has pinnate leaves; up to 5-10 on each stem.

Dogwood is known as a surculose plant which means that it can use the structure of another plant to help it stabilise it when its growing, thats why it has these shoots that grow off the stems to cling onto other branches or twigs.

Ilex Aquifolium - Holly

Ilex Aquifolium - Holly

I found this holly tree the university of Manchester, Vaughan house just outside Christ church on Oxford road. Holly trees are capable of growing to heights up to 18 meters tall, its a completely evergreen tree but in some cases the edges of the leaves are yellow, just like beech its possible to grow holly in the shape of a hedge.

The buds are bald, pointed and cylindrical in shape and every stem has them.

We know that this tree is female because it bares the fruit, the fruit (or pomes) are scarlet red, round and are roughly 1cm in diameter.

The bark is smooth and grey, often found with bumps on the surface.

Being an evergreen tree, some of its leaves can appear to be almost completely yellow.

The leaves are thick, fleshy and shiny (due to its waxy texture)
Formally remembered by its sharp, thick, pointy spikes holly tree leaves can also be found as simple leaves like the one below.

Sorbus Aucuparia - Rowan/ Mountain Ash

Sorbus Aucuparia - Rowan/ Mountain Ash

 I found this mountain ash in Longford close to the garden, this one is still quite young. It stands next to a young cherry blossom. Known as a shrub or small tree, native in Europe, Northern America and parts of Asia. When they reach full maturity they can reach heights of 15m. They produce small, almost spherical berries that are bright red which appear in August.

Its bark is smooth with knots in it and shines a grey-brown colour.

The twigs are slightly hairy, the buds grow to 13mm long and are extremely hairy when they burst into life.

Its leaves are distinctly pinnate with leaflets.

The leaflets have a round edge closest to the twig but become more toothed when it reaches the tip. Though their leaves are similar to the ash tree they are of two different genus.