Unknow tree from SE Asia (Taiwan)

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by ArcticNomad, Feb 8, 2008.

  1. ArcticNomad

    ArcticNomad Member

    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portland, Oregon; a scientist turn into sailor, wi
    This tree I try to identify has mixed characters. I can't even tell its family group. I hope some one can point a right direction. The pictures are taken in a park of southern Taiwan. It is possible a native tree of Taiwan. The fruits (diameter ~ 0.5cm) turn from green to dark red when ripped(in Nov-Dec). It contains a single seed inside. The leaf (L X W~ 5cm X 2.5cm) is kind of thick and stiff. Young leaf is reddish in color.
    Thank you!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    10,603
    Likes Received:
    643
    Location:
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Well, my first impression was Ficus, but I'm not so sure after browsing through the Flora of Taiwan illustrations for the genus. If it was certain that it was native, I might be able to figure out by paging through the flora, but since there's a chance it might be cultivated, I suspect someone will have to be familiar with it and make the ID.
     
  3. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,370
    Likes Received:
    834
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Looks familiar but I can't, so far, name it. Do figs ever produce fruits in terminal bunches? Aren't they pretty much always axillary and solitary? The "ring" at the top of each doesn't seem right either.
     
  4. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    10,603
    Likes Received:
    643
    Location:
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Most figs are axillary and solitary, but there are a few which could be described as subterminal and in bunches. But I think you're right to discount that - these are pretty far removed from subterminal.

    Lauraceae, perhaps?
     
  5. David in L A

    David in L A Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    671
    Likes Received:
    27
    Location:
    Los Angeles, U.S.
    Something close to Waterhousea or Syzygium.?
     
  6. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,370
    Likes Received:
    834
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Myrtle family is what I had in mind also

    http://www.cubberlawitton.org/flora/myrtaceae

    but there are a great many kinds of plants native outside of temperate regions so it seems it could just as well have different affinities.
     
  7. ArcticNomad

    ArcticNomad Member

    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portland, Oregon; a scientist turn into sailor, wi
    Thank you for your replys.
    I tried to fit the feature of Ficus, Myrtle, and Lauraceae familys; still questionable.

    Ficus: The fruit is in fact an enclosed inflorescence, sometimes referred to as a syconium, an urn-like structure lined on the inside with the fig's tiny flowers.wikipedia // this unknown tree does not have the distinctive fig-like fruit.
    Myrtle( clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus): Usually has more than one seed distribute into different chambers // the tree has single seed
    Lauraceae( Cinnamon, Camphor Laurel, Bay Laurel and Avocado): usually has distinctive leaf vein // this tree does not has that. and the fruit of Lauraceae does not have the ring-like structure as in this unknown tree's fruits.

    Thank you again.
     
  8. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,370
    Likes Received:
    834
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Yeah, that's right: you said this one has single-seeded fruits.
     
  9. David in L A

    David in L A Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    671
    Likes Received:
    27
    Location:
    Los Angeles, U.S.
    In Myrtaceae, tribe Syzygieae* generally have one seed.

    *as defined in P.G. Wilson, et al., 2005
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2008
  10. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,370
    Likes Received:
    834
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Well, there you go then.
     

Share This Page