And here is an (incomplete) list of Botanically inspired names from Tolkien's HOBBIT and LORD OF THE RINGS:

AMARANTH, ANGELICA, BUTTERBUR, CELADINE, COTTON, DAISY, IVY (bush tavern), LILY, LOBELIA, MALVA, MENTHA,OAK(ensheild), PANSY, PEONY, POPPY, PRIMULA, (old man)WILLOW, AND ROSE

I just got them yesterday...and I just got the turkish orange eggplant seeds in yesterday, too...so I'm sending you a mixed packet of eggplant seeds today. Keep a lookout for it.

Don't forget Elanor! Yes, I know it's not a plant in our world, but it's a lovely name inspired by a lovely flower.

Yes , your right that was a character of Tolkien's invention named after a plant of Tolkien's invention. That is why she didn't make it on this list.

Good! Enjoy the flowers and the extra sweetpeas I sent are supposed to be really spicy-smelling.
Take care!

I was not familiar with the 'Golden Elm' you mention. I checked out images on the net and must say I am impressed!

I still favour Beeches. Let me explain my thinking.

In my mind, the PARTY TREE is a European Beech. I've seen photos of hedgerows where one tree along the line (at a gate, or at a property corner or just because) is allowed to grow on in its form without the intense manipulation beeches receive as part of a hedgerow. I can't let go of the notion that that is the 'back story' of the PARTY TREE in the shire.

At the end of the story this tree is destroyed, but is then replaced by the supernatural "MALLORN". This is the only MALLORN to ever grow in this part of the world...it is a non-native. (in fact, the seed is shipped to the site with a bit of its own native soil. A difficult transplant!).


The PARTY TREE and MALLORN are symbolically linked in the story.

This sort of supports my idea of MALLORN as a sort of UBER-BEECH. And here I'm thinking of an idealized AMERICAN BEECH. Like mallorn, it is at its best in a forrest of its brethren (i fondly recall such a forest of my youth). It has a bronze fall color, leaves that persist in winter, and light coloured bark. Its architecture seems accomodating to flets. And it would be a startling (if finnicky) guest in an english farm field. It's comes up way short in the flower department though.