Hello I live in Tampa Bay Florida near the Gulf of Mexico. There are several trees of the same species in my neighborhood and beyond that I have not been able to identify. They seem to be native or at least growing before this neighborhood was built about 35 years ago. They are not growing together in the same group of trees, although are markedly in the same general area around about 8 or 10 houses mostly on top of a slight hill. A few notes and some pictures follow, sorry for the bleached left side of many of the photographs, I believe my camera lens is dirty or something else on that side. An up close shot of the leaves of the tree. Notice the tiny two nobes at the base of every leaf. http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2606&stc=1 A cluster of leaves on the branch of a smaller tree nearby. http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2602&stc=1 And the underside of the leaves along with a two berries that I could find only on one of the trees. The rest are not fruiting at this time. http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2603&stc=1 A large tree, probably the tallest and largest canopy. http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2604&stc=1 That same tree: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2607&stc=1 A huge trunk in the backyard of the above house. http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2605&stc=1 I believe I remember the trees flowering but the flowers were not brilliant or especially salient. I believe they were little small whitish-yellow balls, but I am not sure on this. Thanks for help in advance.
florida tree Hi MM, Well since nobody else has, I'll take a stab at your trees. My best guess is that they are camphor trees (cinnamomum camphorum).
thanks Lacking time to confirm your identification with a detailed comparison to the features that the species exhibits, I tentatively conclude my investigation. This is almost certainly the species you indicated, the Camphor laurel, given its distribution in Florida. Although it is considered a "foreign exotic invader," it grows wild in many areas here. Thanks a lot hippo. Can or would anyone else confirm this or comment otherswise?
I'll agree with that assessment: Cinnamomum camphora from the University of Florida Environmental Horticulture department
A Test The way to tell if it is in fact a camphor tree is if you rub the leave between your fingers until it crumbles, it will smell like the ointment Campho Finique. These trees are great if you have pets (keeps flees away)
