Pub Quiz thread

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
hornethologist a.k.a. theo said:
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? <laugh>
Click to expand...
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 ?
 
colognehornet said:
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 ?
Click to expand...

Could it be a variety of box? I believe it to be a hardwood, but don't know about the smell.
 
colognehornet said:
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).
Click to expand...

The only thing that I might have in flower then is blackthorn.
 
oldfrenchhorn said:
The only thing that I might have in flower then is blackthorn.
Click to expand...
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hornet-Fez
yorkshirehornet said:
Cornel?

You must log in or register to see images
Click to expand...
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: yorkshirehornet
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back