From: "Carl G." 
Subject: I think that I will never see a poem as lovely as a tree...
Newsgroups: rec.puzzles
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 16:18:37 -0700
Organization: Raytheon Company

I found this 19th century riddle on the Internet.  The goal is to identify
the names of the trees.  For example, "the Tree that is nearest the sea" is
a "beech".

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 Tree, and the housewife's Tree,
And the Tree that makes o要e 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 o要e becomes ere o要e's old?

The treacherous Tree, the contemptible Tree,
The Tree to which wines are inclined;
The Tree that causes each townsman to flee,
And Tree 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 Tree we all most admire?

The Egyptian plague Tree, the tree that is dear,
And Tree round itself doth entwine;
The tree that in billiards must ever be near,
And the Tree that by Cockneys is turned into wine?

Carl G.

After many answers, here is the collected list

From: "Dogstar" 
Subject: Re: I think that I will never see a poem as lovely as a tree...
Newsgroups: rec.puzzles
Date: Sat, 03 Sep 2005 03:10:43 GMT
Reply-To: "Dogstar" <dogstarZeroZeroZero@microprizes.com>
Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net

I cleaned things up a bit and added a few more... --Dogstar

...On Thu, 1 Sep 2005 16:18:37 -0700, "Carl G." wrote:

I found this 19th century riddle on the Internet.  The goal is to identify
the names of the trees.  For example, "the Tree that is nearest the sea" is
a "beech".
...

What's the sociable Tree (maybe cherry) , and the dancing Tree,
And the Tree that is nearest the sea (beech, from example, or bow?)
The most yielding Tree (rubber), the busiest Tree,
And the Tree where ships may be (bay)?

The languishing Tree (pine), the least selfish Tree,
And the Tree that bears a curse;
The chronologist's Tree (date), the fisherman's Tree,
And the Tree like an Irish nurse?

The tell-tale Tree, and the traitor Tree (Judas),
And the Tree that's the warmest clad(fir);
The layman's restraint, and the housewife's tree (broom),
And the Tree that makes o要e sad (weeping willow)?

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 (live-oak, olive)

The Tree that will fight (box), and the Tree that obeys you,
And the Tree that never stands still;
The Tree that got up, and the Tree that is lazy (sloe?),
And the Tree neither up nor down hill (plane)?

The Tree to be kissed, and the dandiest Tree (spruce),
The Tree guiding ships to go forth ('elm = helm);
The Tree of the people (poplar), the unhealthiest Tree (sycamore),
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 (birch, hickory?),
And the Tree a mother and child do name (damson).

The emulous Tree, the industrious Tree,
And the Tree that warms mutton when cold;
The reddest brown Tree (chestnut) and the reddest blue Tree,
And the Tree o要e becomes ere o要e's old (elder)?

The treacherous Tree (Cane), the contemptible Tree (quaking aspen? -- or
fig, as in "wasn't worth a fig")),
The Tree to which wines are inclined (cork);
The Tree that causes each townsman to flee,
And Tree round fair ankles are twined (hemlock)?

The Tree that's entire, and the Tree that is split,
The Tree half given by doctors when ill(willow as in willow bark tea) ;
The Tree that we offer to friends when we meet (palm),
And the Tree we may use as a quill (aspen = "as pen")?

The Tree that's immortal (, and the trees that are not,
And the Tree that must pass through the fire (ash);
The tree that in Latin can ne'er be forgot,
And Tree we all most admire?

The Egyptian plague Tree (locust), the tree that is dear,
And Tree round itself doth entwine (fiacus or banyon)
The tree that in billiards must ever be near,
And the Tree that by Cockneys is turned into wine?

--Dogstar