Sorry Yorkie...I typed an answer to Cologne indicating his was the right answer but must have forgotten to press Post Reply. What's my name again?
Cheers Theo. Ok I recently found out that 2 trees in my garden apparently possess the hardest, most dense, wood found amongst plants native to Europe. The wood sinks in water, which is highly unusual. What tree/wood is it ?
Box has a very high density Frenchie and is, I believe used to make chess pieces, but it is not quite the hardest, or the most dense.
Not Alder Theo. The name of this tree is similar to that of a famous university. I have to say that the reason I have them in the garden is not because of the wood but because they are loved by early bees (like end of february).
Not Blackthorn Frenchie. The plant concerned here is less common, though it still does grow wild in some areas. In our case we planted it, and I think that our area is one of the northernmost areas where it is likely to be found. I've not seen it in the UK. other than in a few parks.
Time for some more clues. The tree (or bush) is native to Europe, though more so in the south of the continent. Unfortunately it is now more often planted as opposed to growing wild. It is unusual in as much as the flowering appears before the foliage - hence the early flowering. Although the fruit is edible it is very labour intensive to process and so has fallen out of culinary fashion, though it is still a delicacy in some countries. The wood was used for making weapons and spears in ancient Greece, and, traditionally, for staves in Italy. However it is now mostly used as a forage plant for bees, or for flowering hedges. It's name has a similarity to the name of a famous university. I actually didn't know about the quality and density of the wood until reading up about it, having planted it and found it was absolutely untouched by rabbit, deer or vole.
I'll give you that Yorkie. Cornel actually refers to any of the Dogwood family - but the tree referred to (and in the picture) is the Cornel or Cornelian Cherry (Cornus Mas). I had always though that Yew was the hardest wood until researching it a few months back. I've tried this - even a twig of the Cornel Cherry wood will sink in water like a stone. Ours were the first things to bloom this year to the joy of the first Bumble Bee Queens. Over to you.
