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Trees that line the Camino to Mansilla...

SafariGirl

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Francés, Vía de la Plata, Primitivo, Norte, Lebaniego & Vadiniense,
Aragonés
Could anyone please tell me what the trees are that line the Camino Francés between Sahagún and Mansilla de las Mulas? Thank you!
 
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They look and smell a bit like what we call a sycamore tree (platanus occidentalis) in the U.S. Maybe they are related. In the autumn, walking that part of the Camino Frances, that smell reminded me of the changing of the seasons in my childhood in eastern Washington State. (Living in Southern California, the seasonal changes are much more subtle.)
Buen Camino,
--jim--
 
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A poplar tree?
Hi Sabine, Unless there are different types of poplar I don’t think so, because I see quite a lot of those and love them. They tend to be tall and make a wonderful rustling sound in the wind. These are much smaller... although taller than me! :)
 
They look and smell a bit like what we call a sycamore tree (platanus occidentalis) in the U.S. Maybe they are related. In the autumn, walking that part of the Camino Frances, that smell reminded me of the changing of the seasons in my childhood in eastern Washington State. (Living in Southern California, the seasonal changes are much more subtle.)
Buen Camino,
--jim--
Thanks Jim. I’ll Google images of sycamores to see if they look the same. I noticed that some of them had fruit that looked like Horse chestnut casings (conkers) but I know they’re not Horse chestnuts!
 
Those are plane trees, aka "chopos."

Platanus /ˈplætənəs/[1] is a genus consisting of a small number of tree species native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae.

All members of Platanus are tall, reaching 30–50 m (98–164 ft) in height. All except for P. kerrii are deciduous, and most are found in riparian or other wetland habitats in the wild, though proving drought-tolerant in cultivation. The hybrid London plane (Platanus ×acerifolia) has proved particularly tolerant of urban conditions, and has been widely planted in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

They are often known in English as planes or plane trees. Some North American species are called sycamores (especially Platanus occidentalis[2]), although the term sycamore also refers to the fig Ficus sycomorus, the plant originally so named, and to the sycamore maple Acer pseudoplatanus.[2] The genus name Platanus comes from Ancient Greekπλάτανος, which referred to Platanus orientalis.[3]
 
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Rebecca and Jim are both right, these are a form of plane tree. Americans call a form of Platanus - sycamore, where as to many a sycamore is a form of Acer with helicopter blade seed heads. It's one of the reasons hotiulturalist use Latin rather then common names.

What ever you call them they are a welcome sight, a number of places have planted trees to provide shade for pilgrims along they way.

As to your other questions yes there are lots of poplar forms, some tall and thin, others that spread wide and yet others with silver leaves, most like damp soil and are often used to suck up wet spots or as the are fast growing to stabilise hill sides. Enjoy your tree spotting in the Camino, just like pilgrims you will find plenty of natives, the odd Australian (well lots of gum trees actually in Galicia) and even if you are lucky some spikey nz cabbage trees.
 
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Google street view lets you look at the trees into Mansilla as they are blooming. They look like the chestnut tree variety with long leaves, possibly like the buckeye in the U.S. The flowers look like chestnut flowers. I do not think that they are the sycamores that you find in the town square cut back in the style of esplanade (planed in English):
pixel.gif
pixel.gif
pixel.gif
Pollarded+Tree+Espolon+1.jpg
 
Those are plane trees, aka "chopos."

Platanus /ˈplætənəs/[1] is a genus consisting of a small number of tree species native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae.

All members of Platanus are tall, reaching 30–50 m (98–164 ft) in height. All except for P. kerrii are deciduous, and most are found in riparian or other wetland habitats in the wild, though proving drought-tolerant in cultivation. The hybrid London plane (Platanus ×acerifolia) has proved particularly tolerant of urban conditions, and has been widely planted in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

They are often known in English as planes or plane trees. Some North American species are called sycamores (especially Platanus occidentalis[2]), although the term sycamore also refers to the fig Ficus sycomorus, the plant originally so named, and to the sycamore maple Acer pseudoplatanus.[2] The genus name Platanus comes from Ancient Greekπλάτανος, which referred to Platanus orientalis.[3]
Thanks Rebekah! :)
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
Rebecca and Jim are both right, these are a form of plane tree. Americans call a form of Platanus - sycamore, where as to many a sycamore is a form of Acer with helicopter blade seed heads. It's one of the reasons hotiulturalist use Latin rather then common names.

What ever you call them they are a welcome sight, a number of places have planted trees to provide shade for pilgrims along they way.

As to your other questions yes there are lots of poplar forms, some tall and thin, others that spread wide and yet others with silver leaves, most like damp soil and are often used to suck up wet spots or as the are fast growing to stabilise hill sides. Enjoy your tree spotting in the Camino, just like pilgrims you will find plenty of natives, the odd Australian (well lots of gum trees actually in Galicia) and even if you are lucky some spikey nz cabbage trees.
Thanks Hel&scott...ah...that explains why I didn’t think they were sycamores, as you say, I know those as the ‘helicopter-seed’ trees! Very interesting about the poplars too...one of my favourite varieties :)
 
Google street view lets you look at the trees into Mansilla as they are blooming. They look like the chestnut tree variety with long leaves, possibly like the buckeye in the U.S. The flowers look like chestnut flowers. I do not think that they are the sycamores that you find in the town square cut back in the style of esplanade (planed in English):
pixel.gif
pixel.gif
pixel.gif
Pollarded+Tree+Espolon+1.jpg
Thanks Falcon, for the tip and the photo. Yes, I love those too. But I think many of us who walk the Camino are tree-huggers at heart! :)
 
No probs @SafariGirl , we have nut orchard of mainly walnuts but plenty of spanish chestnuts and live oaks to remind us of the Camino (and feed the long legged black pigs). Have fun tree hugging, give jimmy a hug for me too.
 
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No probs @SafariGirl , we have nut orchard of mainly walnuts but plenty of spanish chestnuts and live oaks to remind us of the Camino (and feed the long legged black pigs). Have fun tree hugging, give jimmy a hug for me too.
¡Seguro! :)
 

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