Once again, it’s time for MrsT’s quizzes to branch out and spread their roots, and this round... you’ve guessed it, its trees! They help regulate our climate and provide food and shelter for a whole host of animals as well as providing us with a variety of resources, we might otherwise take for granted. Let’s face it, what wood (pun intended) the world be without trees? They come in all shapes and sizes, as do the leaves and fruit that they bare and yes, I was one of those kids who loved the school trip to Westonbirt Arboretum. For the next 12 weeks, I will leaf you with a clue or two about trees for you to mulch over.EnjoyMYSTERY TREE QUIZ #5Clue: If I blossom too soon, Iris pines yeast.
Germain said:What really scares me is that you both obviously have the same convoluted thinking patterns!
Even that scares me Caroline !!!!
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
Clue: Nibbles at the flicks.
Taking small bites at the cinema / from the cinema ???? Eating a little snack at the cinema ????? Even my good old dictionary does not help me here. And how could that lead to a tree? I will have to brood about it, but I am already sure it will come to nothing. (Very big sigh)
The only connection with the aforementioned Spindle I can make is to do with the fruits popping open in sun to reveal seeds like corn pops when cooked???
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Sounds about right Wendy popcorn for the cinema and Spindle seeds popping in the sun to scatter the seed.
Answer tomorrow!
the connection with plague,its an old superstition that if spindle flowered early in the year plague would follow
probably telling you something already picked up on
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Congratulations to all of you who guessed Spindle (Euonymus europaea). Let’s start with the clues! First clue: If I blossom too soon, Iris pines yeast. Iris pines yeast is an anagram of Yersinia pestis, the rather unpleasant bacteria responsible for the plague. It was once said that if a Spindle tree flowered early, then an outbreak of the plague would occur. Spindle trees flower in May/June for your reference. The second clue: Nibbles at the flicks. Flicks refers to the Movies or to the Cinema. Popcorn is a popular snack to nibble on whilst you are watching a film. Once pollinated the flowers of the Spindle tree develop into bright orange seeds which resemble popcorn.
You might not want to nibble on Spindle fruit as they are toxic to humans and have a laxative effect. Spindle can grow up to 9 metres in height and can live up to 100 years or more. Their leaves are shiny and waxy and dark green in colour. Their timber has many uses, but as its name suggests has in the past been used to make spinning spindles. St Mark’s flies are rather partial to the nectar and pollen from the flowers of this tree.
A picture of a Spindle tree is found here.
Did you know that: spindle timber is used to make artist’s charcoal.
Keep an eye out for next week’s Mystery tree quiz here soon!
Take care,
Claire
Well done Wendy and BW
Thanks BL & well done BW & everyone!...I suspect that Mrs T has lined up a 'stinker' for us next week!!