Y'all ain't gonna believe this ****

L. Wakefield · February 16, 2004, 04:12:28 AM

Ok, if this isn't the dumbest post ever, I'll just have to keep trying.. on another discussion board there was reference to a tree in Texas. The poster SWORE it was called a 'chicken**** tree'. Because of the disagreeable smell of the bark and leaves, I think. They said there had been one on the farm where they grew up about 50 years ago, but could find no other information (not surprising), nor any living specimens. It supposedly had some type of healing virtue, although *I* wouldn't be tempted to start with that particular tree..

Well, I doubt you all have any leads, but I fingered that if there were such a tree, Texans just would not be the sort to let that kind of a name drop off the radar, know what I mean? So I am asking for leads (and leaving myself WIDE OPEN for icoming- well- you know.. ) lw

Tom · February 16, 2004, 06:59:16 AM

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_profile.cgi?symbol=TRSE6

Triadica sebifera

   Chinese tallow tree
   vegetable tallow
   white wax berry
   chicken tree
   Florida aspen
   popcorn tree

https://forestryforum.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?board=tree_id;action=display;num=995391074;start=2

etat · February 16, 2004, 05:42:05 PM

I think we should start a new poll, who's smarter, Jeff, or Tom. both of em never cease to amaze me with their knowledge!

DanG · February 16, 2004, 06:58:14 PM

I dunno, Tom. ??? Them 4 asteriskes after "chicken" must mean sumpthin, but I'll be pooped if I know what. :

They mighta been talking about a chinaberry tree. I know they make a awful mess, and stink to high heaven. Back when I had a stump grinder a feller hired me to remove a chinaberry stump. You'da thought I'd dug up a outhouse or sumpthin. HOOOEEE, that thing like to have run me off!

Tom · February 16, 2004, 07:10:21 PM

Could be a Chinaberry, Dang. Popcorn trees don't smell too good either,but, I've been told that every farm has a Chinabery. Don't know why they couldn't find one not though.

Every ditch and lot has a popcorn tree down here.

Did you know Chinaberry wood makes one of the prettiest bowls you ever saw? ........well, not as pretty as Redbut.

Texas Ranger · February 16, 2004, 07:52:48 PM

Redbut? I heard about a case of the red, err, nevermind.

China berry I have turned looks a little like mahogany, with flecks of rays and such. Chinese Tallow I have no use for, and it does smell foul. And I think the chicken**** comes from the white seed hulls on the ground.

DanG · February 16, 2004, 08:06:06 PM

Oooo! That was fowl, Staples.

:D :D :D :D

Tom · February 16, 2004, 08:32:55 PM

I think Red Bud is a Mahogany.

That was foul DanG. :D

L. Wakefield · February 16, 2004, 11:59:53 PM

I shall pass the info on. You were right about the significance of the asterisks (asterixes sounds better when you say it). If they come up with any medicinal uses, I will pass that back. lw

OneWithWood · February 17, 2004, 08:11:34 AM

Just in case the Chinese Tallow doesn't pan out you might check into the Ginko tree. Ginko Biloba I think is the scientific moniker. The female tree has a powerful smell when fruiting and there are purported midicinal uses.

L. Wakefield · February 18, 2004, 06:18:05 PM

I got back to the newsgroup with the original question and referred them over here. We shall see if we get any takers especially new registrants. I told them a bit about how excellent the forum is. lw

HLS · February 19, 2004, 03:35:09 AM

8)
I was the poster in the other group with the tree of strange name.
The four asterisks would, if filled in, go against the agreement of this board so I will not go further.

The tree was clearly not a chinaberry. We have our share of those nasty things.

I believe the tree had small white flowers in the spring, maybe a rough bark like -what we call - an ironwood.

Tom · February 19, 2004, 05:52:06 AM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, HLS.

I haven't found a picture of the flowers for the Tallow tree but they are prolific where I live and I've seen little white flowers on them. Have you looked at the links in the post above to see if this tree is reminiscant of your's?

L. Wakefield · February 20, 2004, 07:23:00 AM

Hey HLS, welcome! Good for you to take the time to come over. I hope you like it and stick around. These are excellent folks with a collective knowledge base that boggles the mind (my baseline is pre-boggled anyway but that's another story) lw

LeeB · February 28, 2004, 02:18:41 PM

china berry is a relative of mahogany. LeeB

L. Wakefield · March 04, 2004, 06:15:31 PM

   So- I crack up every time I read the title I gave this thread. Just to fill all y'all in...the joke goes like this...

   Q. What is the difference between a northen fairy tale and a southern fairy tale?

   A. A northern fairy tale begins, 'Once upon a time..'

   A southern fairy tale begins, 'Y'all ain't gonna believe this ****..' lw