This 50 year old tree sheds it's leaves around the first week of May; then the pods (visualize a hazelnut before shelled but smashed flat) are revealed and it will generate new leaves, flowers (which liter the ground and look like popcorn kernels) within a few weeks. The roots are a tenacious weave that made the removal of grasses and other plant matter to place the mulch a full 48 hour project. It sustained less damage than my majestic water oak during the 2004-5 hurricane season here in SW Florida. I have had several landscape savvy individuals state that it does not seem to be a native; one man suggested a Hawaiian origin. Would love to put an ID on this most favored tree...
I agree the photo in your link looks like the first ones I uploaded. However, I looked at other Bolusanthus photos online, http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Bolusanthus_speciosus.htm http://www.rareflora.com/bolusanthussp.htm http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/bolusanthspec.htm and in depth information http://www.hear.org/Pier/wra/pacific/bolusanthus_speciosus_htmlwra.htm I am unable to find a photo of the bark that resembles my tree and the color of the flowers is definitely pink, not purple as described in the above articles. The pods do match and I have uploaded several more photos of the bark, height of the tree (28-30 feet) in comparison with it's surroundings and what the pods and discarded flowers look like on the ground. The bees love the discards, by the way. Thank you, Chris, for your contribution; I looked for about 4 hours at the database and found some photos of a tree general name of "Eastern Redbud"; the pods and leaves matched but the flowers seemed more prolific and it is not supposed to grow into a major tree or this far south. From the descriptions I found, the Bolusanthus Specious appears a much better match. I would love some more information on any other color flower and height at maturity. I estimate that mine is at least 30 years old. Jean
It would appear to be a very variable species or possibly it has several subspecies which are now lumped into the main one. Also many plants show marked variation in growth, flowering and foliage depending on the soil and climate. In any case I agree there's some confusion as to what you have. I believe at least you now know the correct genus and can proceed from there. Regards Chris
After more research I've come to the conclusion that it may well be Lonchocarpus violaceus. It seems the species are confused with one another and or used interchangeably in the landscape. HTH CHris
