| Author | Content |
sandrem
Maitland, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 01, 2008
04:43 PM Post #5354941
| Hello, I live in florida and these trees can be found growing in almost everyone's yard at some level of growth and development.
It just so happens that I love the way they smell (a kind of citrus-y piney smell), and would love to make tea from them. I can't for the life of me figure out what they are though.
The newer growth and seedlings grow on green branches and stems, which slowly turn to a rough but thinner bark (a few cm thick) that's lighter brown.
They produce many berries which start out green and end up black. I always thought they were some type of ficus, but the berries don't look "fig"-like, nor are the branches and green-wood reminiscent of a ficus. The wood itself is sturdy and strong, and snaps when broken.
The berries are about .5-1cm in diameter and form on structures which look sort of like small green suction cups. Here are some pictures (this is a new plant with about half a years growth or so, it's mixed in with other shrubs, but I got close-ups too):
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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sandrem
Maitland, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 01, 2008
04:44 PM Post #5354945
| Another Picture (this is near the base of the plant) 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
August 02, 2008
04:51 AM Post #5357450
| Your local county extension agent can give you an exact i.d. if you take in a stem with leaves or possibly by just sending a digital image to them. |
redchic01
southern willamette , OR
(Zone 7a)
August 02, 2008
05:01 AM Post #5357454
| It looks like it could be a laurel of some sort, it is a tough enough plant to grow in many different climates and can grow as both a tree or shrub, depending on what kind of laurel it may be.
the plant in this picture needs some fertilizer, it's usually a darker green.
Typically it has off white flowers that are fragrant and depending on what variety of laurel it can have berries similar to what you described.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/169490/
link to plant files of laurel
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher[com...
This message was edited Aug 2, 2008 2:13 AM |
redchic01
southern willamette , OR
(Zone 7a)
August 02, 2008
05:07 AM Post #5357457
| different kind of it growing as a tree. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/18306/
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Resin
Northumberland
United Kingdom
(Zone 9a)
August 02, 2008
07:26 AM Post #5357596
| Definitely not Prunus.
Resin
|
Joan
Belfield, ND
(Zone 4a)
 August 02, 2008
09:42 AM Post #5358017
| Do these get tall like a tree, or are they more shrub like? |
sandrem
Maitland, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 02, 2008
11:14 AM Post #5358319
| Yea, they get REALLY big. My friend used to have one in his lawn, and it was atleast 30-40 feet tall. They get rather wide as well.
The growth pattern is oak-like. The trunk gets really wide at the base with many branching limbs that go out in all directions (this occurs not too far up the trunk, maybe after about 3-10 feet).
Like Resin, I don't think it's a laurel, but thanks for the tip redchic. |
Resin
Northumberland
United Kingdom
(Zone 9a)
August 02, 2008
12:54 PM Post #5358677
| Not a laurel (Laurus) either. Sorry, not sure what it is though. I'd suspect some sort of tropical plant which most of us won't be familiar with.
Resin
|
jnana
South Florida, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 02, 2008
03:57 PM Post #5359301
| Ailos, could you please post a picture of a large mature tree? I have an inkling of what it may be, but before I venture an ID I would prefer to see a picture. |
sandrem
Maitland, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 02, 2008
05:28 PM Post #5359689
| Yea sure, I'll go get one! |
sandrem
Maitland, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 02, 2008
05:35 PM Post #5359717
| Alright, here's a pic of a mature tree: 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
August 02, 2008
05:36 PM Post #5359720
| A mature plants with flowers and fruit will help with ID. Your area can support a lot of tropical plant species. |
sandrem
Maitland, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 02, 2008
05:37 PM Post #5359723
| And here's a closeup of the foliage and an unripe berry (sorry, but they aren't flowering right now):
The inside of the berry is some-what fig-like, with lots of tiny seeds/pods instead of a big core. They are also quite fragrant.
This message was edited Aug 2, 2008 4:39 PM
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
August 02, 2008
05:41 PM Post #5359739
| A close-up of the trunk will help too. |
jnana
South Florida, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 02, 2008
05:48 PM Post #5359764
| I think, my first thought was right. It looks like a Cinnamomum camphora, Camphor Tree
http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&...
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sandrem
Maitland, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 02, 2008
05:52 PM Post #5359777
| Yes! That's it! Thank you so much jnana (and everyone else who helped)! |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
August 02, 2008
05:59 PM Post #5359803
| It may be a type of Ficus. Richard Wunderlin lists Ficus citrifolia in your area from "Guide to the Vascular Plants of Central Florida" |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
August 02, 2008
06:04 PM Post #5359820
| Good call Jnana! |
jnana
South Florida, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 02, 2008
06:10 PM Post #5359837
| Thank you Ailos and Metrosideros!
Ailos, before you make tea from the leaves read the warning at the bottom of the link. We wouldn't want you to get sick.
http://www.floridata.com/ref/C/cinn_cam.cfm
This message was edited Aug 2, 2008 6:40 PM |
sandrem
Maitland, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 03, 2008
01:06 AM Post #5361205
| Oh yes, I thoroughly investigate anything before I ingest it. It's used in indian cuisine (usually for deserts and sweets), so it is edible. The lethal dose is around 100mg/kg, so I'd need to eat around 5-6 grams of pure camphor before anything bad happens :P |
