This tree bewitches. You can get lost in the intricate and irregular weave of its bark. It invites one to climb, to get close to its silky green-now-turning-pink, lance-shaped leaves, paired symmetrically on its wandering branches, to get close to the remaining fruit on the bow, the oddly-shaped, pink, four-lobed capsules that give the tree its name in French: bonnet d’évesque, or bishop’s bonnet. It’s more common name in French is fusain d’Europe, the same fusain — or charcoal — used by artists. Logically enough, the extremely hard wood of this tree made — and still makes — some of the best charcoal for drawing.
The English name is spindle tree, as in the spindle, a weighted, pointed and sanded stick of wood used to spin yarn out of sheep’s fleece. Knitting needles too were made from the finely grained wood.
The Latin name is Euonymus europaeus meaning, literally — from the latinized Greek — of good name, European variety!
So, three evocative names for a tree that has long been used by Europeans and, in its North American version — known variously as the burning-bush euonymous, eastern wahoo, strawberry tree, or Indian arrow wood (Fusain pourpre, Euonymus atropurpureus) — used for arrows. I’ve read that the name wahoo, for instance, is derived from the whoosh of a well-honed arrow! This bush, which occasionally reaches tree size, is most easily recognized at this time of year by its crimson red foliage, its bright red-pink fruit capsules and the four bright orange arils (flesh-covered seeds), exposed once the capsule splits. No wonder the name burning bush!
There are a few such bushes in Parc La Fontaine: one just beside the stairs leading down to the south pond after you’ve crossed the bridge, going east; the other, behind the small stone house, at the same spot just east of the bridge.
The tree pictured here on the McGill University campus would be close to 100 years of age as it was likely planted when the Macdonald Engineering Building behind it was constructed in 1896. Spindle trees seem to have been fashionable then, much like the ginkgo and Amur cork tree (both future subjects!) . Others, now gone, were planted on the McGill grounds which is an indication that members of Montreal’s Anglo-Scottish business class were likely doing similarly in their own gardens. No doubt, old ones may be found at the Montreal Botanical Gardens and there is at least one in the Mount Royal Cemetery.
Few of the European euonymus seem to be planted now though the native burning bush is a favourite in fall gardens. Perhaps the slow-growing spindle tree just isn’t flamboyant enough, the pale pink of its leaves and fruit capsules unable to compete with its flamboyant North American cousin. Still, when it comes to the bark, the spindle tree is hard to beat.
This is one of the trees I will introduce this Saturday on my tour of McGill trees: A Leafy Legacy: McGill Trees from Sherbrooke to the Mountain.
When: Saturday, October 11, 2008, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Meet: steps of Redath Museum, McGill campus
Fee: $15 adults, $10 students and seniors
Bring: food, drink, a writing implement
Registration: bronwynchester@gmail.com, 514-284-7384
Web: www.foretmontreal.com
One comment
I remember first seeing mention of McGill’s trees in a Public Relations article in the Reporter or the Gazette in the late spring of 82 or 83. They didn’t mention this tree; I know because I clipped that little article and reread it several times before losing track of it many years later.
Congratulations Brnwyn Chester !