# name that tree **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 4, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381 "2005-11-04T00:52:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weeks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@Weeks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeks)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/1 "2005-11-04T00:52:57Z")
I saw a tree that I didn’t have the time to take enough notes on… It had very furrowed bark not unlike the [Basswood](http://www.dof.virginia.gov/mgt/trees/basswood.shtml) , yet it had a fruit not unlike the [tamarind](http://importfood.com/sads1001.html) Yet the leaves, to the best of my recollection( I was in a real hurry) were not anything like these trees. I’m beginning to doubt my eyes and wonder what they REALLY looked like, but I could have sworn they were simple oblong-ish light green leaves. this tree was in the North America half of the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. Right at the bend in the walkway approaching the polar bears. Thanks in advance. ( I’m assuming it’s a North American species.) ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/2 "2005-11-04T01:07:41Z")
If it turns out that nobody can help you here, you can call the zoo’s 800 number, or fill out their online form. It’s better than nothing. [http://www.nczoo.org/contactus/](http://www.nczoo.org/contactus/) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/3 "2005-11-04T02:01:48Z")
Maybe a [PawPaw](http://www.fred.net/kathy/pawpaws.html) [tree](http://www.gwf.org/pawpaw.htm)? ---
**Author:** ![Weeks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@Weeks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeks)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/4 "2005-11-04T02:26:11Z")
I don’t think so, the fruit didn’t appear to be round. It really did look like a tamarind. I’m going to call the zoo tomorrow, I can’t stand it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/5 "2005-11-04T02:35:11Z")
How about [Honey-Locust](http://209.174.209.6/nashville/Bergmann%20Leaf/gleditsia_tracanthos.htm)? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/6 "2005-11-04T02:44:17Z")
The… Larch. The… Larch. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/7 "2005-11-04T08:45:28Z")
OK, seed pods like tamarind = legume (probably, sorry if that seems stating the obvious) One common leguminous urban tree is _Robinia pseudoacacia_ or [False Acacia](http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/trees/false_acacia.htm) - the bark detail shot on that page also confirms deeply furrowed bark. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/8 "2005-11-04T08:49:14Z")
…also, the tree has leaves that are noticeably ‘greener’ - (that is to say more like lime green than olive) than many other trees that will be found growing in similar climates - this is consistent with the OP’s observation. ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/9 "2005-11-04T14:07:45Z")
Carob trees have conspicuous, large bean-like pods. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/10 "2005-11-04T14:40:17Z")
With that fruit structure, it is likely to be a legume. However, this does not fit with the OP’s statement that the leaves are simple, since most legume trees have compound leaves (this is the case both with Honey-Locust and Fakse Acacia, aka Black Locust). One of the few North American legumes with simple leaves is [Eastern Redbud](http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=43), but it doesn’t have deeply furrowed bark. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/11 "2005-11-04T14:42:41Z")
You could try one of several online [dichotomous keys](http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/idit.htm) to try and suss it out for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/12 "2005-11-04T14:57:27Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > With that fruit structure, it is likely to be a legume. However, this does not fit with the OP’s statement that the leaves are simple, since most legume trees have compound leaves (this is the case both with Honey-Locust and Fakse Acacia, aka Black Locust). One of the few North American legumes with simple leaves is [Eastern Redbud](http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=43), but it doesn’t have deeply furrowed bark. I’m wondering whether the OP meant _simple_ in the botanical sense, or was actually referring to the compound leaflets, which in the case of _Robinia_ do themselves look like small simple leaves. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/13 "2005-11-04T15:28:47Z")
Was it a [mesquite](http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~gilbert/mesquite/exphotos/mesquitebean.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/14 "2005-11-04T15:31:39Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I’m wondering whether the OP meant _simple_ in the botanical sense, or was actually referring to the compound leaflets, which in the case of _Robinia_ do themselves look like small simple leaves. Without a more detailed description, it’s probably not possible to identify it. ---
**Author:** ![Weeks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@Weeks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeks)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/15 "2005-11-04T23:07:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Without a more detailed description, it’s probably not possible to identify it. No, I meant simple as in no compound leaves. Just large leaves. Like I said, I was in a hurry and now wonder… I swear it didn’t resemble any trees proposed, but I promise To find out and report back asap. I wonder if there is anyone who can answer the phone at the zoo on a saturday? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/16 "2005-11-04T23:40:36Z")
Some other possibilities we should still be considering: -Perhaps the fruits only superficially resemble those of legumes -Did you perhaps only observe the fallen fruits on the ground? (i.e. are you sure they actually came from the tree you’re describing?) ---
**Author:** ![Weeks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@Weeks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeks)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/17 "2005-11-05T00:15:05Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Some other possibilities we should still be considering: > -Perhaps the fruits only superficially resemble those of legumes > -Did you perhaps only observe the fallen fruits on the ground? (i.e. are you sure they actually came from the tree you’re describing?) Nope, One thing I was sure of in my haste was that the pods were still on the tree and that they seemed a little rotund for typical local pods, i.e. Kentucky coffee bean, mimosa, and wisteria. also, the bark. What kills me is that I had a camera around my neck the whole time…what a dope! ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tree/329381/18 "2005-11-06T04:01:34Z")
> [@Weeks](#): > > Nope, One thing I was sure of in my haste was that the pods were still on the tree and that they seemed a little rotund for typical local pods, i.e. Kentucky coffee bean, mimosa, and wisteria. also, the bark. > > What kills me is that I had a camera around my neck the whole time…what a dope! Catalpa maybe? [http://biology.missouristate.edu/Herbarium/Plants%20of%20the%20Interior%20Highlands/Flowers/Catalpa%20speciosa,%20fruits.jpg](http://biology.missouristate.edu/Herbarium/Plants%20of%20the%20Interior%20Highlands/Flowers/Catalpa%20speciosa,%20fruits.jpg)