tropical tree?

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by robdevilcat, Dec 3, 2006.

  1. robdevilcat

    robdevilcat Member

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    I live in St.Pete ,FL and I'm having a hard time identifying this tree in my yard and behind my property.I am attaching pictures of the leaves,the older tree and a younger tree. In the late spring/early summer the tree produces reddish colored fruits almost the size of an olive. Can anybody help me?
     

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  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Look at web sites/books on Florida trees. There is a high number of native species there on top of all the introduced ones. If not a comparatively unfamiliar one you may be able to find out by taking a sample to a local independent nursery, too. A branch with the fruit or flowers present would be best, although perhaps not essential.
     
  3. TonyR

    TonyR Active Member

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    The opposite leaves and olive-like fruit suggest family Oleaceae as a possibility. How about devilwood, Osmanthus americanus?
     
  4. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    I noticed the similarity in individual leaves to Osmanthus decorus. A friend had a small O. americanus but otherwise I haven't seen that one myself. The bark of yours also looks like Osmanthus, although none of the large-leaved ones we grow over here have such long, slender shoots.

    If that's what yours is it may be a record specimen, it looks big. National Champion trees are listed on web site of American Forests, if this species is treelike there is probably a champion listed for it there. If yours turns out to be bigger you should send it in.
     
  5. TonyR

    TonyR Active Member

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    My old 'Guide to Southern Trees' (Harrar & Harrar) says of devilwood:

    "A tree, becoming 50' to 70' in height, with a trunk 1' in diameter..."

    But it also decribes fruit as dark blue, which is at odds with robdevilcat's description of his tree's fruits as reddish.
     
  6. robdevilcat

    robdevilcat Member

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    You may be right about the color of the fruit.I had a hard time remembering the color of the fruit and asked a housemate. The diameter of the parent tree is aprox. 4-5' possibly more. I also looked up the osmanthus in my American Horticultural encyclopedia and the descriptions do not seem to match.?
     
  7. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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