Obscure plant metaphor

[janus40s]

Does anyone know if there is a shrub or forest-floor ground-cover plant that has reddish bark *and* is indigenous to Scotland?

Failing that, how about one without the red bark but with red leaves in the fall?

Hey, at least I'm not asking for a sex act that rhymes with haggis. Well, now that I think of it...

 

[ffreak]

Welcome to the Hangout.

I think we have a few Scots wandering around the Hangout, but until they weigh-in, you might look at this link:
treefestScotland

 

[MathGirl]

Does anyone know if there is a shrub or forest-floor ground-cover plant that has reddish bark *and* is indigenous to Scotland?

Dear Janus,
Why not just invent something? Ideate some ugly, evil smelling shrub with red bark and leaves. Use the scientific name Hibernium rubifolia, and, as the Brits say, "Pete's your niece."
Helpfully,
MG
Ps. Hoot mon.
Pps. Move over, Linnaeus, MG's on a roll.
Ppps. Don't forget to look both ways

 

[janus40s]

Answered my own question

I found it. There is a tree called the Scots Pine (aka Pinus sylvestris var. Scotica) which has a reddish pink bark and is native to Scotland.

There are a number of good sources on the web but I will quote from http://www.britishexpat.com/garden/gd09.htm:

The tree we know as the Scots Pine grows widely throughout Europe. However, Pinus sylvestris comprises many strains, and only Pinus sylvestris var. Scotica (otherwise known as Pinus Scotica) is indigenous to my homeland. This tree formed the backbone of the Caledonian Forest, or Wood of Caledon, which clothed most of Highland Scotland, and indeed much of the Lowlands, for many centuries. It is, however, a common misconception that this ancient forest no longer exists. Relics of the old Pine forest remain, mainly, and fortunately, now in reserves managed by the Forestry Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage, the RSPB and others.

 

[snooper]

Re: Answered my own question

I found it. There is a tree called the Scots Pine

It is named for the emotion the natives feel every time they lose to Wales at rugby, like last month.

 

[oggbashan]

I'd never have thought of Scots Pine as the answer to the question because I was looking for a shrub or ground cover plant.

I was looking on the ground when I should have been looking way above my head.

Og

 

[ffreak]

Being from that far away Scot's land of California, where the only thing that grows really tall are the Redwoods and the Sequoia, the only Scot's Pine I ever saw were no taller than myself (I stand a towering 5'10" and shrinking). I never saw the color of the bark because the branches started at ground level and were too thick to move, let alone see past to bark.

So how tall do they grow in Scotland, given sufficient time (a few hundred years, I would imagine)?

 

[Guest]

I was looking on the ground when I should have been looking way above my head.

Ogg, I don't know how you can even see over that cake; must be a very limited view of life you have.

condolences, Perdita

 

[raphy]

Re: Re: Answered my own question

It is named for the emotion the natives feel every time they lose to Wales at rugby, like last month.

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau...

Cymru am byth!

 

[ffreak]

Having not heard the Welsh National Anthem, and wondering about lyrical use of language, is byth (forever?) a single syllable, or like the melodic voices of Kentucky, is it two syllables in pronunciation?

For that matter, why can't I find 'erotic' in my welsh dictionary, I thought the Cymry claimed origination of the word.

 

[oggbashan]

So how tall do they grow in Scotland, given sufficient time (a few hundred years, I would imagine)?

Thirty-five feet with a spread of fifteen feet.

Og

 

[raphy]

Byth is one syllabub, pronounced basically "bith"..

Also, it's not in the National Anthem - The first bit of what I wrote is the first line, of course (Land of my fathers).. But the anthem doesn't really say "Wales forever" (Cymru am byth)

Raph, wannabe Welsh nationalist, failing miserably due to a distinct lack of interest in politics. (really I just like to sing the anthem at rugby matches and watch Scott Quinnell stamp all over the English.

Not as much fun since he quit

 

[ffreak]

Scot Pines - evidently they have to be in their native soil. Over here, a Scot Pine that size would be unrecognizable. Of course the face that California soil (at least in the warm, bright, crowded southern part where our rivers are 10 feet wide and run in concrete beds) which is mostly sand with a little decomposed granite, that couldn't have anything to do with stunting the growth of flora. We have a unique oak tree called the Ortega Oak which grows sometimes as high as 10-12 feet. My wife calls them shrubs.

Land of the Cimry figures in my ancestry. Unfortunately that goes far enough back that to ask my family questions regarding the homeland would reacquire a séance.

 

[janus40s]

I'd never have thought of Scots Pine as the answer to the question because I was looking for a shrub or ground cover plant.

I was looking on the ground when I should have been looking way above my head. Og

True. A mature Scots Pine apparently grows to 100 feet. When I was unable to find a shrub, I generalized my search to any red-barked woodland plant. Therefore, this does not satisfy my original request.

However it will work for my metaphor. I can certainly envision a re-forrested area where the pines are "only" ten to fifteen feet tall and adjust the metaphor accordingly.

Also, does anyone know if the Pinus pumila, Pinus sylvestris Beuvronensis or Gold Coin pine has a red bark? These are supposedly shorter relatives of the Scots Pine.

 

[ffreak]

Pinus sylvestris Beuvronensis

Ha, ha! (sorry - I just got an image lodged in my brain of a tree that won't grow near sufferin' succotash!)

 

[janus40s]

Pinus sylvestris Beuvronensis

Ha, ha! (sorry - I just got an image lodged in my brain of a tree that won't grow near sufferin' succotash!)

Yes, I tawt I taw a tweety biwrd sitting in one of tose twees.