Jungle find

[Mrsmorningwood]

Ok, so "jungle" may be a bit of an overstatement. We found this tree on the county land behind our house, right next to Alligator Creek. Looks jungly, sounds jungly, so jungle I shall call it.

Whole tree...

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

Leaves..

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

with fruit...

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

And trunk...notice the claw marks? It is a WELL used tree by something.

 

[TreeCo]

Ficus benjamina?

 

[NickfromWI]

The leaves on a F. benjamina are not serrated. This jungle tree is.

hmmmmmm

love
nick

 

[Leon]

I don't know what it is, but it definitely ain't a Ficus of any sort.

 

[mrtree]

Looks to me like trifoliate leaves.

 

[jerseygirl]

have we given up on this - are there anymore facts that might help - is it native to the area?

jz

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

No, it's non-native, and listed by FL Exotic Pest Plant Council as a Cat 1 invasive. Though, the one pictured is only the 2nd one I've ever seen in this area and the only one (I've seen) growing in the wild.
The other is an absolute monster of a tree that was hit by lightning years ago and is still a monster of a tree. I'll try to get a pic or two.
Yes, the leaves are trifoliate and serrate. Roots like to be on the surface. If I get pics of the other tree, that aspect will stick out.
Good Luck!

 

[zaphod1798]

Melia Azederach? Chinaberry. Thats pretty big,and the leaves aren't as sharply serrated as my aunt's tree, but close maybe? Same genus?

 

[mrtree]

Don't think it is Melia azederach, the leaves and leaflets are wrong.

 

[sean_freeman]

No I'd agree with mrtree its not melia, but at least you've had a go, this is a hard one.......if the leaves were whorled I'd quess at pittsosporum, but they're not...mmm I like this

but its also so annoying....

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

Here are the other pictures I promised. Don't know that they'll help, but I likes em.

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

Another...This one shows the hit it took. We think it was 4 years ago when it was struck.

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

One more. Note the roots.

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

Just to clarify a previous statement...I mentioned above that the second specimen is a "monster of a tree". Please realize, there aren't too many "monster" trees where we live. It's all relative, you know?

I also say it's "freezing" when temps sink into the 60s.

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

Leon had mentioned lack of flowers and fruit pics in the wisteria tree thread so here goes...Trees are no longer flowering but when they do, the flowers are tiny and yellow/green. There is a fruit pic but the fruit are very small at this stage. They grow to about 1/2 inch - green berries that ripen to a pinkish/orange color. The clusters are quite pendulous.

 

[Leon]

I'm stumped.

 

[zaphod1798]

Bischofia trifoliate. Bishopwood?