This is a backlit tree at UC Irvine. But what kind of tree is it? I got a few suggestions from the local brain trust, but none of them panned out. So now I turn to you, the denizens of lunchtime photo. What is this, anyway?

UPDATE: Everyone’s first guess was a gingko tree, but I had already ruled that out. However, Jorge Velasquez IDed it as a Chinese tallow tree, Triadica sebifera. I believe that’s our winner.

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And the essential ingredient that makes all this possible? Readers like you.

It’s reader support that enables Mother Jones to devote the time and resources to report the facts that are too difficult, expensive, or inconvenient for other news outlets to uncover. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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