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Topic: Tree Riddle (Read 7048 times) |
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maryl
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This multiple riddle identifying 65 trees dates from the 19th Century.
What's the sociable tree, and the dancing tree,
And the tree that is nearest the sea;
The most yielding tree, the busiest tree,
And the tree where ships may be?
The languishing tree, the least selfish tree,
And the tree that bears a curse;
The chronologist's tree, the fisherman's tree,
And the tree like an Irish nurse?
The tell-tale tree, and the traitor tree,
And the tree that's the warmest clad;
The layman's restraint, and the housewife's tree,
And the tree that makes one sad?
The tree that with death befrights you,
The tree that your wants would supply,
The tree that to travel invites you,
And the tree that forbids you to die?
The tree that will fight, and the tree that obeys you,
And the tree that never stands still;
The tree that got up, and the tree that is lazy,
And the tree neither up nor down hill?
The tree to be kissed, and the dandiest tree,
The tree guiding ships to go forth;
The tree of the people, the unhealthiest tree,
And the tree whose wood faces north?
The tree in a battle, the tree in a fog,
And the tree that bids the joints pain;
The terrible tree when schoolmasters flog,
And the tree a mother and child do name.
The emulous tree, the industrious tree,
And the tree that warms mutton when cold;
The reddest brown tree and the reddest blue tree,
And the tree one becomes ere one's old?
The treacherous tree, the contemptible tree,
The tree to which wines are inclined;
The tree that causes each townsman to flee,
And what round fair ankles are twined?
The tree that's entire, and the tree that is split,
The tree half given by doctors when ill;
The tree that we offer to friends when we meet,
And the tree we may use as a quill?
The tree that's immortal, and the trees that are not,
And the tree that must pass through the fire;
The tree that in Latin can ne'er be forgot,
And in English we all most admire?
The Egyptian plague tree, the tree that is dear,
And what round itself doth entwine;
The tree that in billiards must ever be near,
And the tree that by Cockneys is turned into wine?
See what trees you can find.
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Zeke the Geke
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Re: Tree Riddle
« Reply #1 on: Jun 12th, 2003, 5:15am » |
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That's quite a whopper! Am I right in thinking that some are real trees while others are plays on the word "tree", such as "chemistry"?
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maryl
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on Jun 12th, 2003, 5:15am, Zeke the Geke wrote:| That's quite a whopper! Am I right in thinking that some are real trees while others are plays on the word "tree", such as "chemistry"? |
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No, they are all real trees that the riddle is referring to.
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Speaker
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Re: Tree Riddle
« Reply #3 on: Jun 17th, 2003, 12:37am » |
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As from little acorns come great oaks, here are a few answers, I don't like to go out on a limb...
My answers are in all caps.
And the tree that is nearest the sea; BEECH
The languishing tree, PINE
And the tree that makes one sad? WEEPING WILLOW
The tree that will fight, CONKER
The terrible tree when schoolmasters flog, WILLOW
The reddest brown tree ROWAN/REDWOOD and the reddest blue tree, BLUE SPRUCE
The tree to which wines are inclined; CYPRESS
The tree half given by doctors when ill; SYCAMORE
And the tree that must pass through the fire; ASH
The Egyptian plague tree, BLACK LOCUST
And the tree that by Cockneys is turned into wine? MULBERRY
I figured if I waited then all the easy ones would get taken 
I figure some are wrong, but they seem good enough to post.
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. <Ben Franklin>
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visitor
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I'll try a few.
The sociable tree: poplar
The dancing tree : I suppose it could be Walnuts if you mumble it
The most yielding tree: cedar
The chronologist's tree: date
The least selfish tree: Is an agave sort of treelike?
The traitor tree: Judas tree
The warmest clad: Fir
The tree that forbids you to die: Olive
The tree that got up: rose tree
The tree in a fog: Hazelnut
The tree to be kissed: tulip
The tree that guides ships: a beacon tree, or pecan if you've got a cold?
The tree one becomes ere one's old: the bald cypress?
The tree we offer to friends when we meet: palm
The tree we may use as a quill: asPen
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maryl
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That's a great start Speaker; I was wondering when someone was going to dive into this puzzle. Rethink the colour trees.
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maryl
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on Jun 17th, 2003, 10:41am, visitor wrote:I'll try a few.
The sociable tree: poplar
The dancing tree : I suppose it could be Walnuts if you mumble it
The most yielding tree: cedar
The chronologist's tree: date
The least selfish tree: Is an agave sort of treelike?
The traitor tree: Judas tree
The warmest clad: Fir
The tree that forbids you to die: Olive
The tree that got up: rose tree
The tree in a fog: Hazelnut
The tree to be kissed: tulip
The tree that guides ships: a beacon tree, or pecan if you've got a cold?
The tree one becomes ere one's old: the bald cypress?
The tree we offer to friends when we meet: palm
The tree we may use as a quill: asPen
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Holy smokes, that's excellent, just three answers are off: the tree that guides ships, one becomes ere one's old, and the least selfish tree.
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Speaker
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Re: Tree Riddle
« Reply #7 on: Jun 17th, 2003, 11:54pm » |
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The tree that bears a curse; DOGWOOD
The tell-tale tree, APPLE (either G. Washington, or Adam and Eve)
The tree neither up nor down hill? PLANE (like the rain in spain)
The dandiest tree, SPRUCE
The tree that bids the joints pain; OAKS (a poin in me nech)
The tree one becomes ere one's old? ELDER
The tree a mother and child do name. PEAR (two of them)
The tree that never stands still; JUNIPER (mumbled 'jumper')
The reddest brown tree SCARLET OAK
The reddest blue tree, BLUE OAK
The tree that's immortal, EVERGREEN/LIVE OAK
The tree that is dear, CHERRY
The tree that in billiards must ever be near, MAPLE
Just to keep things going. Keep me honest maryl 
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| « Last Edit: Jun 18th, 2003, 1:58am by Speaker » |
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. <Ben Franklin>
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Speaker
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Posts: 1118
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Re: Tree Riddle
« Reply #8 on: Jun 24th, 2003, 12:20am » |
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Back again with some more arborial lore.
Some changes, but nothing extreme.
The tree where ships may be? BAY
The tree that with death befrights you, MYRTLE, or CHOKECHERRY
The unhealthiest tree, SYCAMORE
The tree in a battle, SEQUOIA (The warrior)
The emulous tree, APPLE (Aper)
The tree that's entire, SUMAC (Sum)
The tree that in Latin can ne'er be forgot,
And in English we all most admire? EUONYMUS
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. <Ben Franklin>
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Icarus
wu::riddles Moderator
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Boldly going where even angels fear to tread.
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Re: Tree Riddle
« Reply #9 on: Jun 24th, 2003, 5:49pm » |
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on Jun 24th, 2003, 12:20am, Speaker wrote:The tree that with death befrights you, MYRTLE, or CHOKECHERRY
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I'm not sure what source you've got for tree names, but I certainly wouldn't call CHOKECHERRY a tree. It's a bush.
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"Pi goes on and on and on ...
And e is just as cursed.
I wonder: Which is larger
When their digits are reversed? " - Anonymous
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Speaker
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Posts: 1118
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Re: Tree Riddle
« Reply #10 on: Jun 24th, 2003, 8:50pm » |
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Maybe you are thinking of the Red chokecherry (Aronia arbutifolia) which grows to about 6 to 8 feet. I am thinking of the Common chokecherry (Prunus virginia) which grows to 20 to 30 feet, and is majestic in its arboreal grandeur.
Anyway, if you say Myrtle, like bugs bunny or sylvester, as in "I'm gonna moidelize ya" it sounds like murder.
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. <Ben Franklin>
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Speaker
Uberpuzzler
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Posts: 1118
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Re: Tree Riddle
« Reply #11 on: Jul 1st, 2003, 12:52am » |
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Hey maryl, do you have any comments on the answers submitted so far?
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. <Ben Franklin>
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maryl
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on Jun 24th, 2003, 12:20am, Speaker wrote:Back again with some more arborial lore.
Some changes, but nothing extreme.
The tree where ships may be? BAY
The tree that with death befrights you, MYRTLE, or CHOKECHERRY
The unhealthiest tree, SYCAMORE
The tree in a battle, SEQUOIA (The warrior)
The emulous tree, APPLE (Aper)
The tree that's entire, SUMAC (Sum)
The tree that in Latin can ne'er be forgot,
And in English we all most admire? EUONYMUS
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Sorry Speaker for not getting back to this sooner. There is a different answer for the following trees: in death befrights you, the emulous tree, the entire tree.
You can only use each answer once.
I like your response to the last one, mine was questionable.
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maryl
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on Jun 17th, 2003, 11:54pm, Speaker wrote:The tree that bears a curse; DOGWOOD
The tell-tale tree, APPLE (either G. Washington, or Adam and Eve)
The tree neither up nor down hill? PLANE (like the rain in spain)
The dandiest tree, SPRUCE
The tree that bids the joints pain; OAKS (a poin in me nech)
The tree one becomes ere one's old? ELDER
The tree a mother and child do name. PEAR (two of them)
The tree that never stands still; JUNIPER (mumbled 'jumper')
The reddest brown tree SCARLET OAK
The reddest blue tree, BLUE OAK
The tree that's immortal, EVERGREEN/LIVE OAK
The tree that is dear, CHERRY
The tree that in billiards must ever be near, MAPLE
Just to keep things going. Keep me honest maryl |
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Ok, now this one: The telltale tree is a different fruit, but the curse tree takes the aforementioned fruit. Your reply though for the cursed would work for another of an obedient nature.
I have other answers for the tree that bids the joints pain(it's pretty hot stuff), and for what one becomes when one is old(not foolish but rather .....), and the tree for mother and child is rather prunish.
The tree that never stands still sprouts in spring, and smells lovely and lacs nothing. I have no answer for the tree that is dear. And as for immortal, well my love lies bleeding never to fade away or die.
And, last but not least, all your colour trees are just as good as mine, but mine are great for chewing- whether as a Christmas treat, or in the classroom if you want to get stuck in the corner with everyone watching you.
This has been "a slice", keep it coming.
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