I have come across two of these trees, and two plant "experts" haven't been able to identify it. I am in Australia, but I'm confident that it's not an Australian tree. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Ryan.





(I can take additional photos of specific features if required).

Have you see them bloom or any signs of seed pods? When you crush a leaf, does it have an odor? It reminds me of something...

Thanks for your reply Daisy,
I haven't seen them flower yet, but I haven't been around either tree for a whole year.
The leaves have no odour when crushed.
I couldn't see any buds/flowers/pods on the tree, but I found some old receptacles? underneath the tree (pictured, but which I cannot guarantee is from the same tree, but is likely to be).
Thanks, Ryan
Also the leaves have started to turn orange? (pictured) Isn't early January a bit early for Autumn leaves? Although we have had a heatwave lately, perhaps this could've had an impact...?

Hopefully someone will have a light bulb moment. I'm drawing a blank.

The leaves look like an apple but the stems look like elderberry. I was leaning toward poplar or cottonwood but, if those are the right fruits, all my thoughts are completely wrong.

You may have to watch this tree for awhile and add photos (to this thread) as new things happen: flowers and fresh fruits would be wonderful!

Those look like Amelanchier sp. - and those fruit (not supplied in the posting on the OTHER website) fit with Serviceberry.

Some additional images of the buds, undersides of the leaves, and any other information will always help.

The striated bark on the multistemmed plant fits very well with Amelanchier sp. - a popular member of Rosaceae in eastern North America landscapes.

If you get to them in time, the fruit is very tasty - much like a blueberry.

Leaves can turn color early, often due to droughty stresses. But you wouldn't be having anything like that in Australia, would you...

Thanks, yes, Amelanchier seems to be the leading contender. I will get a shot of the underside of the leaves a little later today - I want as definite an identification as possible.

Very clear closeup images of buds - especially on young growth extensions of the season - should provide good positive ID as well.

Look around for more of the spent reproductive parts that are less decomposed. The Serviceberry fruit should show all the typical parts of a Rosaceae member fruit.

You haven't noted where in Australia you are observing these plants. Tell us!

On that OTHER website, there are good entries with quality images in their PlantFiles database - including quite a few from a contributor from Australia/New Zealand, which may align better with what you are looking at and evaluating.

Here are some Plants Database entries for Amelanchier sp.

Juneberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

Apple Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance')

Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

Okay, here are some additional images: 1: underside of a leaf, 2: some early Autumnal leaves?, plus I pulled out my macro lens for a 3: closer shot of a "less decomposed spent reproductive part" (which this time had attached leaves so I am certain they are from the same tree) and 4: a closeup of a new leaf bud (terrible white balance but presumably still okay info-wise).
I am in Adelaide (Southern Australia - temperate climate).
Hope some of this helps, cheers.











Oh, and thank you John for all the info you posted there - it would be nice to be able to determine exactly what it is.

You are quite welcome, Ryan. I am only sorry that you dismembered the specimen before displaying its component parts...

If you are still willing to continue this combat: this time, clip off a branch that has some new growth on it. A section maybe a meter long would be adequate, and that should likely have new green tips (as shown) as well as maybe some new buds at the base of leaves that will be next year's leaves/flowers and new growth extension. That picture of the green tip/bud appears to have more leaves attached lower (but out of camera range) that are more mature and have more mature dormant buds. Oh, the suspense!

Older growth (woodier) than this green tip should certainly have some buds on it - as well as ID indicators like more mature bark with lenticels (maybe) and other characteristics associated with the species like bud scars and leaf scars. Oooo, we are getting in deeper now.

The array of colorful leaves show all the hallmarks of Rosaceae ravages - the insect damage and disease defects that members of this family are famous for. If you displayed too many "clean" leaves, one would suspect you of cheating.

All of this coaxing isn't solely to help you properly ID the plant. I also hope to coach others in providing ID information in an orderly manner, and also to learn something about how plants are put together - and what all those parts are called.

I was never classically or formally trained in horticulture or botany, but by observation and dogged interest I learned these things. Now, online, one can see and learn these things from around the world - especially if provided good images of all the right parts.