Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: winter clean up, 1 by ViburnumValley

ViburnumValley wrote:
Oh yes, your #1 & #2 are the telltale aggregate of samaras of Liriodendron tulipifera. I was just busting that out for an ID over on the Plant ID forum.

Your #3 and #4 are one of my favorite plant parts. I\'m going to leave it for others to chew over before providing its identity.

For those who know me: I am willing to send a prize of One Dozen of my wife\'s delectable Chocolate Truffles to whomever IDs the plant from whence these parts come. Weerobin may also be able to vouch for the truffles, but is not eligible for the prize since the plant is in his yard and that\'s an unfair advantage.

I have these plant parts gracing the Valley as holiday decorations, since they essentially never decay - and always bring the \"what\'s that\" question. I also used them as part of classwork when I was back in school earning my degree in Landscape Architecture back in the \'90s. There was one tree on campus, and fall inevitably brought a small cascade of these.

I\'ve seen fine specimens of this species at Swannanoa Palace, Durand-Eastman Park, and Monticello - in addition to the University of Kentucky campus.

See what you did there, Wee? Triggered fond memories o\' youth...