Winter Fruit
August 23, 2005
The seed-pods of these roadside Plane trees dangle in threads of two-or-more. When seen from a distance, with the naked eye, the effect is most disconcerting — as though one is seeing double.
Update for Jamie: I've added a closeup of one of the seed-pods. They have an inner diameter (minus the spiky bits) of about an inch, and the dark holes are where the seeds live, prior to dispersal.
Details: Nikon 18-70mm, 44mm, f/16, ISO 200.
Comments
jamie wrote, on 24 August 2005, at 12:56AM:
I like how the clouds match the tree somewhat. What do these look like up front? Like round pine cones?
jamie wrote, on 24 August 2005, at 12:03PM:
Those are fabulous little seed pods! Very interesting and unlike anything I've ever seen. Quite impressive. Thanks for posting the macro!
garyx wrote, on 25 August 2005, at 6:23AM:
Followed link from Jamie's site: Couple of nice shots here - I particularly like the blue sky. Did you use a polarizer?
Marty wrote, on 25 August 2005, at 6:32AM:
Gary: Thanks. No polarizer -- it's in my bag, but it doesn't come out that often. Actually I'd normally apply a slight 'S' curves adjustment, but doing so in this case pushed the sky to an unnatural colour, so I left it as-is.
Jamie: Yes, thanks for the link -- I've already had several people clicking through, in the last hour.
Turfdigger wrote, on 25 August 2005, at 3:26PM:
Well worth the extra macro post - wonderfully alien.
luke wrote, on 14 October 2006, at 3:49PM:
isn't this sweetgum? in georgia they're all over, and you don't want one in your yard. they make thousands of those seed pods (sticker balls)
Anonymous wrote, on 29 March 2007, at 5:15PM:
yes, thats a sweetgum seedpod, not a plane tree
Anonymous wrote, on 25 September 2007, at 8:19PM:
fgdfgdfg
Anonymous wrote, on 25 September 2007, at 8:20PM:
sorry, messed up on that one but good shots
Jessica wrote, on 27 September 2008, at 12:45PM:
The close up is a sweetgum/gumball tree, not a plane tree.
Dissapointed wrote, on 18 March 2009, at 7:50PM:
All I can say is look at my name : (
bruce wrote, on 13 January 2010, at 6:35PM:
Would love to know the exact type of plane tree it is. I have one of these trees in my front yard.
Marty wrote, on 13 January 2010, at 10:27PM:
This is almost certainly a London Plane Tree. London Planes are tolerant of pollution, and are standard roadside trees in Adelaide, and many other parts of the world. (See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanus_×_hispanica)
Janie wrote, on 15 June 2010, at 10:08PM:
nope, this is definitely a sweetgum tree. the seed pod is a little different from the London Plane Tree. you can see what I mean if you do a google images search of London Plane Tree. This sweetgum tree seed pod is spikier and WAY more interesting...especially as a close up shot!! Very nice job!
jordan wrote, on 8 January 2012, at 9:40AM:
It is a Liquid ambar styraciflua