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 #8
Clue: For the love of branza.
P.S: sorry for delay in posting, busy day!
No, a 'mmm' I like cheese. A bit of MrsT's new year cheekiness ;)
now that should read cheesiness
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Yes, my bad. My typo!
Congratulations to all of you who guessed Yew (Taxus baccata). Let’s start with the clues! First clue: For the love of Branza. Branza is an anagram of Zarnab, a herbal drug that was derived from Taxus baccata by Persian polymath Avicenna (Ibn Sina) in 1021. It was prescribed as a cardiac remedy, hence ‘for the love of’ referring to hearts and love. The second clue: It is of grave concern to prevent udder chaos. Though subject to speculation, one potential reason for Yew trees being planted in graveyards is to protect graves from damage caused by marauding cattle. Udder, of course refers to cows, and chaos any damage caused by them. Yew leaves are poisonous to cattle.
Yew trees can grow up to 20 metres in height and can live for at least 1000 years. Their leaves are straight pointed needles that are dark green on top and green-grey below. It is the female flowers that develop into the red fruits we see on Yew trees; the fruit that many birds are partial to. In addition to its medicinal use, Yew is used as a hedging plant and its wood for long-bows and tool handles.
A picture of a Yew tree is found here.
Did you know that: the Yew is in fact, a primitive type of conifer and has fleshy fruits rather than cones.
Keep an eye out for next week’s Mystery tree quiz here soon!
Take care,
Claire
that anagram threw us Mrs T
Actually mentioned yew grew in churchyards but couldn't connect
lol
Ray
Yew were the closest BL so take the honors!!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Hello and Congratulations, Ray!
Very well done, this was really hard to find out.
I would never have found out.
Regards,
Bente
Well done, Ray. I went down several blind alleys by assuming it was a cheese and never thought of an anagram. I don't think I'd ever have got there in any case.
____________________________________________________________________
Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Its easy to get distracted by cheese ;)
suppose its the closest I've been lol
Thanks all
say CHEEEEESE Mrs T