LA white barked tree?

Hi. Would anyone know what kind of tree this is? It's been driving me nuts for years. It's commonly found on streets in various areas of Los Angeles. These particular ones in the photos are on Melrose Ave. Any info would be great!

Sorry about the larger photo as it's from Google street view.

http://i27.tinypic.com/aonsjq.jpg

http://i27.tinypic.com/2vklon4.jpg

 

Very difficult to id it from your pics. A good pic of the leaves would help. Just a suggestion..... could this be it?


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laland/2008/05/tree-of-the-w-4.html

 

Ficus, possibly F. microcarpa (syn. Ficus nitida).

 

Thanks guys! Looks most definite to be a Ficus nitida. Are they referred to as Indian Laurel Fig? There's plenty of articles in LA talking about how annoying they are with roots and sidewalk repair. There was apparently an abundant planting of them in the 50s and 60s. Recently cities around LA have got rid of them due to the sidewalk problems.

I was wondering if they can grow in Vancouver, BC. Fig trees due grow here, but I'm not sure about these ones.

Here's a few more photos -

leaf close up - http://i32.tinypic.com/2hrg0u8.jpg

http://www.azbids.com/customers/plants/ficus_nitida.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcshots/569103467/

http://media.photobucket.com/image/Ficus nitida/nofreezeplease/Ficusnitidagraytrunk.jpg

 

Ficus it is, saltcedar was right. Thought the Ulmus looked too dainty in leaf, but not sure what pruning might do.

 

>It's been driving me nuts for years<

Then it must be a nut tree.

 

Yes, they're known as Indian Laurel Fig, Chinese Banyan, Green Island Fig, Cuban Laurel, and probably several others. They've been cultivated for a very long time, and have had many names assigned to them, and have slid around through taxonomic namings as well. I just researched a lot on them, as someone in my neighborhood cut one down, and I rescued the logs to see if they would be any good for woodworking.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57818/