Things of Middle-earth
laurinquë
Type: Plants
Description:
An ornamental tree growing in the southeastlands of Númenor:
In the Hyarrostar grew an abundance of trees of many kinds, and among them the laurinquë in which the people delighted for its flowers, for it had no other use. This name they gave it because of its long-hanging clusters of yellow flowers; 1 and some who had heard from the Eldar of Laurelin, the Golden Tree of Valinor, believed that it came from that great Tree, being brought in seed thither by the Eldar; 2 but it was not so.
Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 1, Description of the Island of Númenor
Notes
1 The description of yellow racemes is reminiscent of the laburnum, or golden chain tree; Tolkien explicitly likened Laurelin to this species. See Note 1 and Note 4 of the Laurelin entry for further information, including a photograph.
2 The Eldar had indeed brought many plants to Númenor:
[The] Eldar brought thither flowers and fountains out of Tol Eressëa.
The Silmarillion, Akallabêth
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 3Mar05, 7Feb10