[myfanwe]

Hi all,

I've posted links to some photos of a tree in my back yard which is currently dropping a lot of seeds and leaves and as I don't know what the tree is, I am worried about my hens eating the seeds. I'd appreciate it if anyone could help me to identify it. I thought it might be a money tree, but having looked at a lot of pictures of those oneline, I don't think it is.

All assistance gratefully received! 

 http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z468/MagzDragon/Snapbucket/4961CCA1-orig.jpg

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z468/MagzDragon/Snapbucket/937C9F69-orig.jpg

[joyfull]

does this help:-

http://www.allcreativedesigns.com.au/pages/leaf_characteristics.html

[joyfull]

Hi Myfanwe I have sent a message to Lindeggs for you to see if she can possibly identify it for you (not sure if she ventures out of the chicken sections  ).

[myfanwe]

OK we've narrowed it down, with the help of a handy dandy plant encyclopedia to a member of the Koelreuteria genus. It's possibly a Koelreuteria elegans (flamegold or formica flame).

Now I just need to find out if that is toxic for my chickens.

[joyfull]

found this list:-

http://www.plannedparrothood.com/plants.html

[myfanwe]

Thanks joyfull. There are flame trees listed on that list, but I think that they may be two other varieties of tree that are called flame tree in Australia and which I have grown up knowing are toxic. I am trying to find this tree listed by its botanical name to be absolutely certain, but thanks for finding that list for me. I have noticed a few other plants we have in the yard which I will need to keep the hens away from. I never leave my chickens to free range unsupervised, anyway, because there are a lot of hawks in the area.

[joyfull]

you could try asking your local agricultural college/university 

[Lindeggs]

Interesting looking seed pod!  I'm not familiar with this tree - we might not have it in NZ.  You're right to go by the scientific name as there are at least five different trees in NZ known by the common name "flame tree" and they are all totally different.  (And the one in your pics doesn't look like any of them!)

Thanks for drawing this to my attention, Joyfull.  You're right I don't often peep outside the chicken coop.