I bought a lot in Englewood, FL with some trees I've never seen before. They are at least 60' tall, straight with branches only near the top. I can't get a good look at the leaves. The bark is brownish red and deep furrowed, a little like live oak bark. Here's my only photo. It's not a pine. Gumbo Limbo was suggested but I am sure it is not.
Can you try to get a photo of the entire plant? Even if there isn't much leaf detail, it will help. Try taking a photo in the evening with the sun at your back or on a cloudy day, as that will help increase detail.
Re: what is tall redbark tree? more pictures. I bought a lot in Englewood, FL with some trees I've never seen before. They are at least 60' tall, straight with no low branches. The brownish red bark can be pulled off with fingers in soft, fibrous chunks to reveal a very smooth trunk. Gumbo Limbo was suggested but I am sure it is not. Here are new photos.
I thought that is what they would turn out to be from the start and now I am sure that is what they are. Gums are not as prevalent in the Gulf states as in California etc., probably many back there do not know what they are. Yours have some dieback and signs of thinning or slow growth, clearing away the vines and giving them an open space of their own may produce an improved condition. It will certainly make their bark and branching pattern more visible.
Thank you. I still am not sure. Eucalyptus Sp. sure looks like my tree, but the leaves are narrower and the bark does not seem to match. Photos I am seeing show only a papery bark that peels. Mine is fibrous and comes off in chunks. Ron B., when you say "gums" are you still talking about gumbo-limbo? Its bark, too, is described as papery. Is there a stage at which the bark might be different?
Eucalyptus with around 700 species you'll be a long time checking all possibilities. ;-) In any case Gum is a generic term for Eucalyptus. The variability of the bark is one of the main reason so many types are known as the leaves and flowers can be similar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus#Bark Regards Chris
Thank you all. I had brought home some leaves when I was at the lot (350 m. away) last weekend. I crushed one as suggested and it has a weak Eucalyptus smell. I am going with that as the species of tree on my lot. I need to know it to get a building permit and no one down there knew what it is. Kirk
I tried to find the one this might match but did not have much luck. The bark looks familiar but as Ron said a good 700 to choose from. Looks like it may have been there for quiet a few years and is probaly one from the tropical end of Australia given that you are in Florida. One of the members who lives in northern Aust may recognize it. Will give them a prod to have a look at the thread Liz
Thanks, Liz. I am sure I only have to tell the building department that it is a Eucalyptus, but this is interesting. I have been searching the web for a really close match and my wife has started calling me obsessed. I am not sure that it is a stringybark; the fibers are finer than what I have seen in pictures. Actually, it would be good to know if it is one of those that drops branches; one tree will be near the house and maybe I should cut that one down. I have four more: 11"; 25"; 2-in-1, 23"; and a triple trunk, 42" in diameter. They are all within 20' of the pond.
It does not look like the stringy bark we have around here (grey bark). Stringy bark is like a ribbed jumper. You can sort of pull long strands down and it is very fiborous (sp). Yours looks like it breaks of in short patches. Looking at it it is not the widow maker type but I would remove dead branches if you can. High wind will bring them down but they can also drop on a very still day. http://burarra.questacon.edu.au/pages/stringybark_trees.html See if it is any of these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stringybark Maybe an iron bark http://www.ffp.csiro.au/alrtig/ironbark.htm http://www.pbase.com/bernard74/image/79955264 Swamp Mahogany. This may be a contender as it is more yr. climate 2nd item even mentions Florida http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eucalyptus~robusta http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/eucalyptus/robusta.htm Images http://images.google.com.au/images?hl=en&q=Eucalyptus+robusta+&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi Liz
Try Tallow Wood . Eucalyptus Microcorys http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallowwood This is frm my northen Aust. source Liz
I am overwhelmed by the responses y'all have sent me and I thank you. I have to call it quits someplace- I have too many other aspects of this to finish. I believe it is the Swamp Mahogany (not actually Mahogany) because it was widely spread throughout California and Florida and has other charisteristics that I see. Kirk in Florida, USA
