Hello, I am an anthropologist who studies foraging behavior and other social behavior. In Tucson, AZ, USA this fall I came across an edible acacia-like tree that bears a blue berry. I showed it to my plant expert, who has never seen one before, so he took it to his plant expert, a horticulturalist at the University of Arizona, who did not recognize it either. Thus they were both sure it is not from the new world. I found the plant in a courtyard outside of a restaurant and a Baha'i Center. The restaurateur is interested in edible species, but she says she did not plant the tree. She thinks someone planted it in her garden as a lark. I believe the plant may be Middle Eastern. I could not find any flowers on the plant, but I noticed it has been bearing fruit steadily since September first, and at a fairly slow rate, and as you can see, it is still ripening fruit. I have found the fruit is edible, juicy and slightly sweet and bears on the average 4 crescent shaped seeds (see photo). The tree is about 15 feet (5 meters) tall and about 15 feet (5 meters) wide. It seems to be a desert adapted species. I have attached recent photos of the plant taken today. Best regards, Jeff Brooks
Hello Chris and Ron, thanks for your quick id. This plant might just be related to the Elephant Tree (Bursera microphylla); however, if you notice the fruit and the stem are different. I just added two more images that show the seed and the fruit better, but still the image quality is not so good, sorry. I’ll need a macro lens, which I do not have, improve the image quality. http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/pic1/bursbursmicro2.JPG http://images.google.com/images?q=bu...=1&sa=N&tab=wi Best, Jeff
