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Trees in the British Isles Trivia Quiz

Facts about the trees we are surrounded by. Can you spot which species match which fact?

A multiple-choice quiz by Flapjack44. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Flapjack44

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
78,670

Updated
Jul 10 24

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
17 / 25

Plays
2229

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. Considered holy with powers of purification (with the ability to drive out badness), the Druids named one of their months after it. Hint

Silver Birch

Horse Chestnut

English Oak

Rowan

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Question 2 of 25

2. The trembling of the leaves of this tree was said to represent grief or guilt, with some local lore claiming the guilt stemmed from the wood of the tree being used to form Christ's cross. Hint

Silver Maple

Common Ash

Aspen

Hornbeam

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Question 3 of 25

3. Which small tree (also a large shrub) grows sloe berries? Hint

Hawthorn

Blackthorn

Mulberry

Dogwood

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Question 4 of 25

4. This tree was considered to harbour evil spirits and gave rise to malign spirit fables such as the Erlkonig of German legend. Hint

Common Hazel

Common Alder

Medlar

Elder

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Question 5 of 25

5. The name of this tree is said to stem from the tough wood. Hint

Dogwood

Osier

Buckthorn

Hornbeam

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Question 6 of 25

6. Fagus sylvatica refers to which tree?

Answer: (A large tree that is often used to create hedges)

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Question 7 of 25

7. Which tree was decimated by a disease which entered the UK in 1967?

Answer: (Ulmus procera)

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Question 8 of 25

8. 'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire' refers to the Sweet Chestnut.

True

False

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Question 9 of 25

9. The twigs of this tree break and float downstream, taking root further along the waterway. Hint

Pin Oak

Snow Gum

Crack Willow

Cotoneaster

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Question 10 of 25

10. This tree is Europe's largest Maple. Hint

Sweet Gum

Norway Maple

Sycamore Maple

Field Maple

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Question 11 of 25

11. The biology of this tree makes it ideal for planting in cities. Hint

London Plane

Horse Chestnut

Sycamore

White Poplar

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Question 12 of 25

12. This decorative tree, often planted along avenues, was known by North American Indians as 'canoe wood' and was introduced to Britain in 1656. Hint

Fig

Persian Ironwood

Swedish Whitebeam

Tulip Tree

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Question 13 of 25

13. The 'king' of British trees.

Answer: (One word only)

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Question 14 of 25

14. A common belief was that if a sick child was passed through a cleft in the trunk of which tree they would be cured? Hint

English Oak

Common Ash

Maidenhair Tree

Weeping Willow

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Question 15 of 25

15. The only large conifer able to exist through the Ice Age in Northern Britain. Hint

Giant Redwood

Monterey Pine

Scots Pine

Bhutan Pine

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Question 16 of 25

16. This tree has needles as leaves but is actually deciduous and loses the needles in the winter. Hint

Deodar

Norway Spruce

Western Hemlock

European Larch

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Question 17 of 25

17. This tree grows berries that are used in the manufacture of gin. Hint

Common Hazel

Barberry

Strawberry Tree

Common Juniper

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Question 18 of 25

18. This plant does well where the nitrogen content of the soil is low, for example in churchyards or badger setts. Hint

Spindle

Gorse

Hawthorn

Elder

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Question 19 of 25

19. The name of this tree is said to derive from the Norse word for 'a charm' and it is often connected with witchcraft in ancient texts. Hint

Mountain Hemlock

Grand Fir

Tree of Heaven

Rowan

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Question 20 of 25

20. This tree is the tallest broad leaved tree in Britain. Hint

English Oak

Sweet Chestnut

Common Beech

Common Lime

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Question 21 of 25

21. The tall thin tree, the Lombardy Poplar, is often seen lining boundaries or roads.

True

False

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Question 22 of 25

22. This native tree is nowadays more often seen clipped into hedges and ornamental shapes.

Answer: (One Word .. buxus sempervirens)

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Question 23 of 25

23. The bark, leaves and twigs of this tree can be used in extract to prevent inflammation and control bleeding. Hint

Hornbeam

White Willow

Wych Elm

Witch Hazel

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Question 24 of 25

24. Conkers come from which tree? Hint

Horse Chestnut

Sessile Oak

Paper Bark Maple

Field Maple

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Question 25 of 25

25. Longbows were made of this highly flexible and strong wood. Hint

Noble Fir

Snowberry

Osier

Yew

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Considered holy with powers of purification (with the ability to drive out badness), the Druids named one of their months after it.

Answer: Silver Birch

Hence 'birching' being used as a method of discipline in public schools. Despite its frail appearance, the Silver Birch is actually one of our most hardy trees.

2. The trembling of the leaves of this tree was said to represent grief or guilt, with some local lore claiming the guilt stemmed from the wood of the tree being used to form Christ's cross.

Answer: Aspen

The trembling is actually caused by the extremely flattened long leaf stalks.

3. Which small tree (also a large shrub) grows sloe berries?

Answer: Blackthorn

Sloes can be made into jam, wine and also used as a flavouring in gin. The sloe was probably one of the forerunners of damsons and other domestic plums.

4. This tree was considered to harbour evil spirits and gave rise to malign spirit fables such as the Erlkonig of German legend.

Answer: Common Alder

The reputation for evil stemmed from the fact that the cut wood takes on a blood orange hue.

5. The name of this tree is said to stem from the tough wood.

Answer: Hornbeam

'Horn' meaning hard and 'beam' meaning tree in Old English. The wood is consequently often used for butchers blocks, mallets, balls and skittles.

6. Fagus sylvatica refers to which tree?

Answer: Common Beech

At Meikleour, near Perth, a 200 year old Beech hedge has reached 30 metres high and 550 metres long.

7. Which tree was decimated by a disease which entered the UK in 1967?

Answer: English Elm

The earlier desire for large numbers of elms meant many were grown using only a few genetic strains. This made the tree peculiarly vulnerable to the Dutch elm disease onslaught and 12 million English elms died as a consequence.

8. 'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire' refers to the Sweet Chestnut.

Answer: True

In England, the climate means that our Sweet Chestnuts rarely ripen sufficiently and, as a consequence, the chestnuts we buy at the greengrocers are imported.

9. The twigs of this tree break and float downstream, taking root further along the waterway.

Answer: Crack Willow

The Willow also uses seeds to propagate.

10. This tree is Europe's largest Maple.

Answer: Sycamore Maple

The Sycamore can grow to 35 metres and can live to 200 years, although it is commercially viable from 60 years.

11. The biology of this tree makes it ideal for planting in cities.

Answer: London Plane

The shiny leaves wash clean in the rain and the bark flakes off taking the grime with it, so the London Plane can live happily in the polluted air.

12. This decorative tree, often planted along avenues, was known by North American Indians as 'canoe wood' and was introduced to Britain in 1656.

Answer: Tulip Tree

The nickname is a reference to the fact that the Tulip Tree grows to up to 15 metres in its native habitat before branching.

13. The 'king' of British trees.

Answer: Oak

The felling of the tough oak was so advanced during her reign that Elizabeth I had to pass laws to restrict the harvest and later a planting program was begun in order to meet the ship building demands of the navy.

14. A common belief was that if a sick child was passed through a cleft in the trunk of which tree they would be cured?

Answer: Common Ash

Burning Ash was also supposed to rid evil spirits from a home. The Norse peoples particularly celebrated the Ash as a symbol of life, with Odin (the greatest of the Norse Gods) creating the first man out of its wood.

15. The only large conifer able to exist through the Ice Age in Northern Britain.

Answer: Scots Pine

Amongst other things, the wood of the Scots Pine has been used for ships' masts, turpentine, resin, tar and furniture.

16. This tree has needles as leaves but is actually deciduous and loses the needles in the winter.

Answer: European Larch

The golden colours of the Larch when it is about to shed the needles are a beautiful sight and stand it apart from other, evergreen, conifers.

17. This tree grows berries that are used in the manufacture of gin.

Answer: Common Juniper

Juniper oil was also used by the Ancient Egyptians in the mummification process.

18. This plant does well where the nitrogen content of the soil is low, for example in churchyards or badger setts.

Answer: Elder

The decaying matter in the soil allows the Elder to colonise the area quickly.

19. The name of this tree is said to derive from the Norse word for 'a charm' and it is often connected with witchcraft in ancient texts.

Answer: Rowan

The Norse word is 'runa' and Rowans are often planted outside doors and gates to charm away evil spirits.

20. This tree is the tallest broad leaved tree in Britain.

Answer: Common Lime

It often grows easily to 40 metres.

21. The tall thin tree, the Lombardy Poplar, is often seen lining boundaries or roads.

Answer: True

The Lombardy Poplar remains largely unaffected by soot and dirt and consequently is often used as to screen off factories.

22. This native tree is nowadays more often seen clipped into hedges and ornamental shapes.

Answer: Box

Natural Box can still be found however, with one notable site being Box Hill in Surrey.

23. The bark, leaves and twigs of this tree can be used in extract to prevent inflammation and control bleeding.

Answer: Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is also one of the woods used in water dousing although the Common Hazel is preferred.

24. Conkers come from which tree?

Answer: Horse Chestnut

The name 'conkers' actually derives from 'conqueror' and the game began with snail shells or cobnuts. Horse chestnuts only came into common use a full 200 years after the tree was introduced to Britain.

25. Longbows were made of this highly flexible and strong wood.

Answer: Yew

The flexibilty stems from the fact that the wood of the Yew is very close grained.

Source: Author Flapjack44

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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