skip to main content

Tropical Plants Name That Plant!Trees

Unidentified Tropical Birch-like Tree in Background of TV Show

Agathis Adeamus

last month

Not really a gardening related question as such ( more like botanical curiosity ). So I've been watching this live-action TV series adaptation of Tarzan from the early 90s which has Wolf Larson portraying Tarzan and the French actress Lydie Denier portraying Jane Porter, and I couldn't help noticing the fairly tall trees with silvery white bark in the background of the shots of Jane's compound in the jungle. For some reason, they only seem to be there in season 1. The show was filmed in a jungle (presumably in Mexico), so we can definitely eliminate Quaking Aspens as a possibility. What exactly are they? I would almost like to say that they are some sort of Eucalyptid like the Ghost Gum, but I can't be sure. Is there anyone who can visually identify this species?

Featured Answer

BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/MA

last month

Here are your trees ...

Not sure if these are them, too:

No idea what they are, but maybenow someone else can identify them without having to scroll through the video.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (19)

Agathis Adeamus
Original Author
last month
I tried to upload some stills of some of the scenes where the mysterious trees are seen in the background, but am having trouble.
Bill_minn_3b {West Central MN}
last month
Just tell us the time that the tree appears and we can scroll to that part.
Related Discussions
Lanai and Birdcage
Q
Comments (50)
Hi Marvmare - was just looking through some ideas books and came across this http://www.houzz.com/projects/26036/2009-Southern-Accents-Showhome Check out photo No. 5. Would this be a mood you would like to create? I see your lanai as a transitional room from your home to the garden so you are taking furniture out of the house and bringing the garden in to make that transition. Plus with your tropical weather you need to keep everything fresh, crisp and cool looking and you want a casual relaxing look. This is how I view things to make them work for me - 1. tiled floor, although the colour is wrong note the matte finish to the tile which is not only less slippery, gives the room an earthy look as part of bringing the garden in, 2. the furnishings are far too formal but the brown upholstery in the two single chairs would be similar to having natural colour cane wicker chairs or sofas so mentally change those chairs to comfy wicker ones with maybe neutral cushions 3. the blue pot, you have the blue ceiling (which I love) so you can see how bringing blue into the room will look great and keep the cool fresh feeling The only extra colour I would add to keep the casual but fresh look is a bright sunshine yellow - a clear true yellow not a gold or brown yellow. I have worked out what you are calling slings, I actually have some with a black frame and cane seats and backs and I have seen similar still around from time to time. Maybe check them out to keep the wicker theme otherwise I think black leather could look good with yellow decorations on the table. They wouldn't take up as much space as cane chairs could and they are not visually intrusive, so I think you could safely have them for your dining area and wicker for the sitting area. A few plants between to define the areas would help also. Does that work for you?
...See More
Still looks empty and not satisfied.
Q
Comments (43)
You have worked hard and it shows. What a great job. I would imagine the room feels so much more comfortable now! Does it? If you can move the two large pieces (loveseat and sofa) so the arms touch and they form an 'L' shape. Then bring the small glass end table in closer to them. Next move the coffee table closer to the sofa. Turn the chair so it angles and is facing in the direction of the small table between the sofa and loveseat. The palm should be back behind it. I like both giraffes there, but with the chair moved they may need to move to the hearth. The round mirror behind the sofa would reflect the light from your window then the birch trees print can go above the fireplace. I would like to see a glass sofa table behind the loveseat. You could put some of your art figures on it rather than on the hearth. These drapes might work: http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/for-the-home/departments/window-treatments/in-home-services/custom-decorating-/resource-center/fortune-faux-silk-solid-rod-pocket-drapery-panel/prod.jump?ppId=156a99c&catId=cat100260226&subcatId=cat100260213&deptId=dept20000011&N=1402 1405 1504 4294966702&pageSize=96&topDim=Color&topDimvalue=blues&dimCombo=Color%7CColor%7CTop+Construction%7CItem+Type%7C&dimComboVal=blues%7Cwhites%7Crod+pocket%7Cpanels%7C&currentDim=Item+Type&currentDimVal=panels They would put some color in the room and it looks like the shade of green will work with your chair. Keep on with what you are doing. Can hardly wait to see more updates!
...See More
Master bedroom, big space, indecisive
Q
Comments (63)
Sometimes a room happens a bit by accident. A couple is out shopping, they see a bed. Someone says..."gee, that's nice!" But all furniture gives off a feel, whether that is masculine or feminine, clean and bold, or soft and curvy, hard or soft. In this room, whether or not that was the intention, the feel is one of bold masculinity. Now.. seems to me the poster of the dilemma was seeking a bit of softness, perhaps a feel not even discussed or planned for when the bed was chosen. To get to the "softer" thing, and to get the bed in balance and scale with the size of the room, the bed truly needs to move to the long wall. Removing the top rails of the bed would lighten its scale, take away the box feeling, and take nothing away from it's good looks. Bedside tables, scaled to the bed would help. The end window, and its short appearance can benefit from a console underneath, and curtain panels. Add a larger rug sized to scale of the room. I would likely remove that chair rail, and AFTER doing these things, decide if any pattern is necessary. Likely it won't be. An ir repeater with cable box hidden in a closet, solve the dangling cord problem over the dresser, move tv....to view at foot of new location for bed. I bow out of the fan battle, other than to say, white, close to ceiling......and no light : )
...See More
Non-traditional, pet friendly living room suggestions
Q
Comments (84)
I like the cage setup. I have small parrots (conures, and one caique) so I understand how hard it is to integrate space for them. I would not use scented candles in the house, as it may kill your bird. Remember how the coal miners brought the canary into the mine? Bird lungs are so sensitive that minute amounts of fragrances and chemicals in the air can kill them. I will not use ANY candles in the house. In fact, the San Antonio zoo lost 21 birds form teflon fumes coming from a light bulb. Also, I am wondering if that is a metal perch on the bird stand that your bird is standing on? Maybe get it a thicker branch perch? Perfectly round perches can be hard for parrots to balance and can cause bumble foot, which can cause chronic ulcers. Branch perches have some variation so they are not trying to balance on a perfectly round object. I speak from experience on this as one bird started getting bumblefoot and my rescue bird already had the ulcer when I got her. Your bird is beautiful and I am so glad you give him space he deserves. It is great you consider him in your design. I do the same with my little guys. Here are my bird cages. I try to arrange them so each bird gets a view out the window. The patio overhang helps with shade.
...See More
Agathis Adeamus
Original Author
last month
Okay, though it isn't a very good shot of them, they appear in the first episode in the background, both behind and around the bamboo hut at 4:38 as Tarzan turns and starts running from the camera.

Episode 2 "Tarzan and the Silent Child" - they appear again, this time behind the tent shown at 9:13. At 12:31 they are seen again around the campsite where the jeep is parked. They are seen again from a different angle at 12:41

Episode 3 "Tarzan Tames the Bronx" - They first appear again at 3:29 around the bamboo/straw hut.

Episode 4 "Tarzan and the Picture of Death" - A slightly closer shot of their crowns above the hut at 15:18.

Episode 5 "Tarzan and the Unwelcome Guest" - A shot of their trunks reveals some ash grey and russet green splotches giving some subtle contrast to the mostly white bark of the tree at 9:50.

There are many more instances of them appearing in the background of the campsite, but this is all I care to list for now.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last month
last modified: last month
this link states filmed in mexico.. if it helps ...

if i was looking at the right trees at 4:38 .. except for coloration... they dont look like birch of any form i know ... and that isnt much.. lol ..

i might GUESS something in the sycamore family.. what is that... platanus???

here is a WAG: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Platanus+mexicana&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

and i mean WAG .... i will defer to anyone ...

ken

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101217/
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last month
last modified: last month
The video isn’t visible to me. But P mexicana grows in arid places. Is this jungle a dry or wet one? Can you pause the video and do a screen shot?
davidrt28 (zone 7)
last month
My google-fu is quite good. I found out the series was filmed in jungles around Palenque, MX, which is in Chiapas and is a true tropical monsoon climate. This might have some leads: https://www.backyardnature.net/chiapas/veg-map.htm
davidrt28 (zone 7)
last month
Here is a Terminalia with whitish bark: http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Terminalia+oblonga
Agathis Adeamus
Original Author
last month
Thanks guys. Both of these two candidates could probably pass, but between the two I can definitely see a greater resemblance to Platanus mexicana, though the filming location is definitely not an arid one. Still, I understand Sycamores/Plane Trees to mostly be a tree of the wetlands anyway. According to this website called "whatgrowsthere.com", The Dallas Arboretum has one, and it says "thrives in warm wet locales".

http://www.whatgrowsthere.com/grow/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Plantanus-mexicana-5.jpg

I didn't realize it was a Sycamore, but I think we've found our tree. :)
davidrt28 (zone 7)
last month
Note that there are actually several Sycamores native to Mexico: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanus
Agathis Adeamus thanked davidrt28 (zone 7)
Agathis Adeamus
Original Author
last month
I wonder, is there any possibility that they could be the "Yellow Mastic/False Mastic" (Sideroxylon foetidissimum)? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideroxylon_foetidissimum
Agathis Adeamus
Original Author
last month
Photos of the Sideroxylon are harder to come by.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last month
It’s really hard to see any detail but to my eye the general impression of the leaf shape doesn't look like a Platanus.
nel5397
last month
They could be Balsa Wood trees given the locale.
Agathis Adeamus
Original Author
last month
Although the Balsa Wood (Ochroma pyramidale) does share some visual similarities, I haven't seen any photos that are an exact match for the ones around the campsite of the show - I do however, appreciate the suggestion. Their growth habit and shape of the crown is noticeably different. Although Sideroxylon is still a possible candidate, there isn't a wide enough sample pool of photos at their different growth stages. As it stands now, Platanus is the most likely candidate I think.
Agathis Adeamus
Original Author
last month
Okay, disregard the Sideroxylon. If this is what they look like at maturity, it isn't the tree from that show.

https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/sideroxylon-foetidissimum/?lang=en
davidrt28 (zone 7)
last month
Yeah I think between the Sycamores or Terminalias we have likely narrowed it down. I had no idea there were tropical highland sycamore trees so that was an interesting discovery for me. I guess they won't be wasting space for them at the SFBG though. (LOL, since presumably they don't bloom like the daisy trees...and don't look so different from temperate zone plane trees)
Agathis Adeamus
Original Author
last month
SFBG?? The San Francisco Botanical Garden?
davidrt28 (zone 7)
last month
last modified: last month
Yes. Known as the one of the only places in the CONUS to see various highland tropical flora.

Related Stories

HOUZZ CALL Show Us Your Christmas Tree!

Are you proud of your holiday handiwork? Share a well-lighted picture of your decorated tree and tell us about it

INSIDE HOUZZ Decorating Trends: A New Houzz Survey Shows What Homeowners Want

By Mitchell Parker

Is the TV gaining or losing ground? Are women or men trendier? Find out and learn more about people’s decorating plans right here

Houzz Call: Show Us Your Paint Makeovers

By Becky Harris

Let your newly repainted house or room do the "How d'ya like me now?" strut right here — it might just be featured in an upcoming ideabook

LIFE Houzz Call: Show Us the House You Grew Up In

By Becky Harris

Share a photo and story about your childhood home. Does it influence your design tastes today?

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Show Us Your Garden Retreat

By Annie Thornton

Where do you go to get away from it all and unwind in your yard?

MOST POPULAR Design Debate: Is It OK to Hang the TV Over the Fireplace?

By Mitchell Parker

In the spirit of the upcoming political debates, we kick off a series of conversations on hotly contested design topics

HOUZZ TV FAVORITES Houzz TV: A New England Farmhouse Explodes With Color

By Rikki Snyder

Creativity and color burst from every corner in this unique 18th-century Massachusetts home for an artist and her family

SUMMER GARDENING Houzz Call: Please Show Us Your Summer Garden!

By Annie Thornton

Share pictures of your home and yard this summer — we’d love to feature them in an upcoming story

HOLIDAYS Houzz Call: Show Us Your Decorated Holiday Mantel

By Annie Thornton

Share your festive fireplace stylings with the Houzz community in the Comments!

HOUZZ TV Houzz TV: Reinvigorating a Gable Eichler for a Family

Its classic open atrium remains, but updates help this California home meet today’s codes and quality standards

More Discussions

Adenium squishy/sponge in the middle of the caudex

20

Should i report my monstera albo cutting?

8

How To Handle This Massive Rubber Plant?

4

Should I repot my Swedish ivy?

2

Please help me ith my Calathea Ornata (had it 1 week and its dying)

5