What are these leaves ??

[Jackhr]

What are these leaves ?? These came from a Australian who served at Gallipoli and later killed in France these were with his belongings, they feel like silk but not sure if a plant or made up?? Any ideas would be great.

Thanks Rob

[Milmed]

They remind me of the Silver Leaf tree we have growing on the mountain slopes here in Constantia, Cape Town. Same shape and silky texture.


Silver leaf tree
Leucadendron argenteum (silver tree, silver leaf tree, Afrikaans: Witteboom, or Afrikaans: Silwerboom) is an endangered plant species in the family Proteaceae, which is endemic to a small area of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. ... It is a protected tree in South Africa.

Is it possible your guy may have served in the Boer War as well and collected the leaves from a tree here?

[Jackhr]

Originally Posted by Milmed

They remind me of the Silver Leaf tree we have growing on the mountain slopes here in Constantia, Cape Town. Same shape and silky texture.


Silver leaf tree
Leucadendron argenteum (silver tree, silver leaf tree, Afrikaans: Witteboom, or Afrikaans: Silwerboom) is an endangered plant species in the family Proteaceae, which is endemic to a small area of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. ... It is a protected tree in South Africa.

Is it possible your guy may have served in the Boer War as well and collected the leaves from a tree here?

No mate just went to the middle east then Gallipoli then France

[leigh kitchen]

Leaves from an olive tree?

[dumdum]

I have seen these with messages written on them such as "Greetings from Ladysmith".

Am I correct in that they are often called the "everlasting leaves"?

[mike_vee]

Rosemary ?

Rosemary has particular significance for Australians, as it is found growing wild on the Gallipoli peninsula.

Traditionally, sprigs of rosemary are worn on Anzac Day on April 25: the date Australian troops landed at Gallipoli in 1915.

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[Milmed]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

Rosemary ?



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Size of a Rosemary leave is about 1/2 inch and Silver leaf 6 to 9 inches, so definitely not Rosemary. Attached picture in earlier post

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Milmed

Size of a Rosemary leave is about 1/2 inch and Silver leaf 6 to 9 inches, so definitely not Rosemary. Attached picture in earlier post

As the original post doesn't show/mention size of leaf it is difficult to judge. Modern (cultivated) Rosemary "may" have a smaller leaf than the wild/natural plant of 100 years ago ?

My 'guess' was based on the strong link between ANZAC forces and the wild Rosemary that grew on the Gallipoli peninsula.

[Jackhr]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

As the original post doesn't show/mention size of leaf it is difficult to judge. Modern (cultivated) Rosemary "may" have a smaller leaf than the wild/natural plant of 100 years ago ?

My 'guess' was based on the strong link between ANZAC forces and the wild Rosemary that grew on the Gallipoli peninsula.

Sorry about that here a couple more photos with ruler and they are a light brown in color and feel like they are covered in fur. Shaped and size of a gum leaf.

Rob

[Home Guard]

Just a thought, but could they be Australian? I recall an episode of ANZAC Girls were they celebrated ANZAC Day giving each Australian patient and staff a small badge made from leaves one of the nurses had received from home. They looked very much like these leaves. Here's the scene where you can see the leaves being worn. The silver leaf they are also wearing with it is for New Zealand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RRi-1kmB60

Then I saw this Australian badge and that also seemed to fit.



Since he served at Gallipoli he may have been in that ceremony???

Terry

[Jackhr]

Originally Posted by Home Guard

Just a thought, but could they be Australian? I recall an episode of ANZAC Girls were they celebrated ANZAC Day giving each Australian patient and staff a small badge made from leaves on of he nurses had received from home. They looked very much like these leaves. here's the scene where you can see the leaves being worn. The silver leaf they are also wearing with it is for New Zealand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RRi-1kmB60

Then I saw this Australian badge and that also seemed to fit.



Since he served at Gallipoli he may have been in that ceremony???

Terry

Hi Terry
hope all is well ,those look like gum tree leaves these ones same shape and length but are not them.

Thanks Rob

[mike_vee]

After looking at the clip Terry posted and seeing the size of the leaf could they simply be gum leaves ?

A Poem from the time :

An Australian Gum-Leaf

Just an Australian gum-leaf,

Enclosed in a letter from home;

Oh! what a simple offering

So many miles to come.

But the weary man in the trenches

Sees with his visioned eyes

His “little grey home” on the hill side,

Where the whispering gum-trees rise.

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[Jackhr]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

After looking at the clip Terry posted and seeing the size of the leaf could they simply be gum leaves ?

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No not Gum tree leaves , not the one's i have seen.

Rob

[mike_vee]

That's me out of ideas !

Why not get in touch with the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria , they could possibly give you a definitive identification of the leaves ?

http://www.rhsv.org.au/

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