Dendrologist Dan's spring stunners: Cercis siliquastrum

Looking good out in the arboretum today are over 15,000 trees, though perhaps some more obviously than others.

Of those are examples of Cercis siliquastrum, commonly known as the Judas tree. As legend would have it that an individual of this species was what Judas Escariot (of Bible fame) hung himself from. However, I prefer to highlight the more savoury (or sweet) feature that the tree is known for, the phenomenon known as cauliflory, where flowers are produced directly from the stem, as opposed young branches or the current years growth.

It is in fact more a feature associated with tropical plants including Theobroma cacao, which translates as the 'food of the gods', though perhaps known to more of us simply as chocolate!! Tasty.