Enormous Berry Shrub?

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by kdowler, Oct 25, 2010.

  1. kdowler

    kdowler Member

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    What on Earth is this? Many people want to know!
     

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  2. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Cornus capitata or a hybrid with Cornus capitata as one of the parents.
     
  3. kdowler

    kdowler Member

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    We were debating between that and the Cornus kousa.
     
  4. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Definitely the leaves of the far more common and likely to be encountered Kousa dogwood.
     
  5. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Ditto to Cornus kousa.

    The fruit are edible, can be delicious.
     
  6. Barbara Lloyd

    Barbara Lloyd Well-Known Member

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    OK Guys PANIC ATTACK!!!!!!!!!

    Dumb Dog (29 lb half rat terrier half blue healer) just swiped one of the softer seeds listed above off my desk and ran away with it. Mouthed it quite a bit and left it in the entry way. Is he going to get sick? Grand daughter is having a melt down. Someone please answer.........barb
     
  7. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    If it is eating Cornus kousa fruit, no problem. They are edible.
     
  8. rhodogal

    rhodogal Active Member

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    Yes, Cornus Capitata. I have one in my yard, Sidney BC area, but it hasn't done well since the cold weather we had 3 years ago. Is your's healthy? I think this a really lovely tree abit later in the fall as the berries will be bright red if the birds don't get them. Enjoy
     
  9. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Wrong leaf for that one.
     
  10. Barbara Lloyd

    Barbara Lloyd Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Michael. Grand daughter calmed right down. She took the word of someone half way around the world but won't listen to me. Kids? :((((

    Now, the reason I brought the seeds home is to try to grow them. Can this be done or is there some reason this will not work? Thanks again...barb
     
  11. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Plant the dog's poop, and the seeds should come up ;-)

    With many berry-type fruit, the seeds don't germinate readily until after they've been through an animal's digestive tract, it means that fruit that just drop off the tree don't germinate (where they would compete with the parent tree), while seed carried well away and sown with a 'package of fertiliser' (!!) grow well.

    If you don't fancy the dog poop method, take some fresh fruit, suck the pulp off and clean the seeds the best you can in your mouth (saliva also helps the pre-germination treatment a bit), then scrub the seeds with a bit of dilute hydrochloric acid (same acid as in the stomach), and then sow the seeds and keep the soil moist and chilled (+1 to +2°C) over winter.

    The seeds may sprout in the spring, or may wait until spring a year later (2012).
     
  12. rhodogal

    rhodogal Active Member

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    Thanks for the info!!
     
  13. Barbara Lloyd

    Barbara Lloyd Well-Known Member

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    Michael,
    Thanks for the info. We already use this method to re-plant tomatoes via our squirrels. The ones the squirrels plant do grow better, they just don't plant them in the right places and they usually have to be moved. Will feed dog more seeds and follow him. :)) barb
     

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