name this tree

[sleeping bear]

Hiking yesterday I was very intrigued by this small tree I kept seeing. Once home, I did a preliminary search through my field guides but came up with nothing. So I thought I'd pick all of your brains for the answer.

This tree was a short thing, not over 5 feet tall, thin trunked and branched, more "bushlike" than tree in height and shape, although not very filled out. The bark was smooth, and maple-ish. At the ends of each branch were buds such as in the picture. Some of these buds had a small ball between the two halves. The photos below isn't very clear, but the buds looked like two tan colored hands clasped together. They were very beautiful and interesting to look at.

I was thinking some kind of Alder, but am not sure. Anybody know?

 

[BorealChickadee]

Looks like hobblebush, one of the viburnums.
When the hobblebush blooms the blackflies are out.

 

[gaiagirl]

I was going to say Northern Wild Raisin, but you know what, I think Hobblebush might just be the same plant ! Good call Borealchickadee. Common names are a pain. If I recall, the scientific name is Viburnum cassinoides. The buds looking like "praying hands" are the only identifier necessary. But then again, I am no botanist!!
Where did you hike sleeping bear???

 

[audrey]

Here's a 3rd vote for Viburnum cassinoides, hobblebush.

 

[forestgnome]

Ayuh, probably hobblebush. Moose love the buds. Next time you see it, notice that it appears to have been pruned with a dull instrument. Moose will bite off the whole bud, forcing the plant to spread out and not get tall, like shrubs. It has beautiful white blossoms, and in autumn the foliage turns a firey red/orange. Look closely in any patch of hobblebush and you will probably find more moose sign, such as droppings and fur stuck to the branches. Gale River area is loaded with it.



Here's a shot of a patch in autumn with some obvious moose sign!

Happy Trails!

 

[five_head]

A web search shows that scientific name for hobblebush is Viburnum lantanoides.

 

[David Metsky]

A web search shows that scientific name for hobblebush is Viburnum lantanoides.

There are many different species of Viburnum with many called Hobblebush in different areas of the country. Both types (lantanoides and cassinoides) grow in the New England area, and I suspect both are called Hobblebush locally.

USDA link

-dave-

 

[sleeping bear]

Wow, thanks all for indentifying the tree/bush! The "praying hands" were so cool. I only wish my camera's batteries could have held out for a few more (and better) photos.

I was in the Gale River area, and as someone pointed out, there were tons of those trees.

 

[arghman]

can't really add anything to this thread, but I second (third? fourth?) the Viburnum vote, probably hobblebush but it could be wild-raisin, I'm not that familiar with the buds.

 

[Nessmuk]

This tree was a short thing, not over 5 feet tall, thin trunked and branched, more "bushlike" than tree in height and shape, although not very filled out....They were very beautiful and interesting to look at.

Slogging your way through a ravine bottom or traversing along a ridge edge, come summer when these things are all leafed out and tangling your legs on a bushwhack, "beautiful" is not one of the terms that generally comes to mind with these things.
On the other hand, it helps to keep the remote woods remote with solitude, a good thing.

Both types (lantanoides and cassinoides) grow in the New England area, and I suspect both are called Hobblebush locally.

In my parts (western 'daks) most call it "witch hobble". Thick, awful stuff.

 

[Umsaskis]

Since I can't open the picture (popup blockers or something on my computer), I'll assume everyone is right and it's hobblebush (sounds right), but I'll add this: take another hike through that area come spring and you'll see piles of white flowers (actually not the flowers themselves, the sepals are white) all over the bush. Quite beautiful, and very spring-like. Take another hike in the fall, and you'll see the leaves a deep purple, one of the earlier species for turning color, and a striking, beautiful color at that. Winter is actually one of the duller periods for this species.

 

[audrey]

Five head is right.

Viburnum cassinoides is witherod: it looks completely different.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/548078061/2119902820070644097hQbPDZ

Here's a great shot of hobblebush (V. lantanoides or V. alnifolium) I got last fall:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/548078061/2689963720070644097wWQWbo

 

[Pat T]

Hobble Bush

Here is another website with pictures of the hobble bush.

http://www.macphailwoods.org/shrub/hobblebush.html

The third picture shows the "praying hands" on the plant in the fall. Tree and shrub identification in the winter and spring is a very different skill from just looking at the flowers in the spring or the leaves in the summer. One helpful clue is to look for the arrangement of the leaves (you can see the scars where they were attached to the stem) or the buds:

"MAD Cap Horse" stands for --
Maple Ash Dogwood Caprifoliacea Horse-chestnut

All of these trees and shrubs have opposite leaves. Caprifoliacea is a very large family of mostly woody shrubs which includes honeysuckle, viburnam, elderberry, and others.

Pat T

 

[bill bowden]

Can anyone confirm for me?

I heard a verbal report that our native viburnums (including hobblebush) were being devastated by a Korean insect accidentally introduced into the Northeast.

 

[arghman]

I heard a verbal report that our native viburnums (including hobblebush) were being devastated by a Korean insect accidentally introduced into the Northeast.

no personal knowledge but ran across this...
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/