The Trees of Florida Second Edition

Second Edition
The
Trees of Florida
Gil Nelson

The
This second edition of Gil Nelson’s popular Trees of Florida has been completely
revised, updated, and enlarged to include all of Florida’s native and naturalized trees.

Trees of Florida
Treated are approximately 530 species—up from 346 in the first edition—including
nearly 330 natives, more than 200 non-natives, and 12 species that occur nowhere
else in the world.

New features in this edition include:

• 612 color photos (more than four times as many as in the first edition)
• 420 line drawings (hundreds more than in the first edition)
• Region of species’ origin (if not native)
• Notation of endangered, threatened, or endemic status
• Notation of FLEPPC status as invasive or potentially invasive
• Updated notes on each species’ distribution within Florida
• Completely updated nomenclature
• A revised family, genus, and species classification that follows recent phylogenetic
analyses
• A dichotomous key to higher taxa, making it easier to find families, genera, and
species

Gil Nelson has spent many years exploring, teaching, and writing
about Florida’s natural communities. He is the author of twelve
books and regularly writes for a number of magazines on natural
history, ecology, outdoor recreation, and native plant gardening.
He is a research associate in botany and courtesy professor at
Pamala Anderson

the Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium at Florida State University,

where he coordinates the Deep South Plant Specimen Imaging
Project, a National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative. He
is also a Beadel Fellow at Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy,
where he advises in herbarium management and oversees databasing and imaging
the botanical collection, also with the support of NSF funding. He lives in the
community of Beachton, Georgia, with his wife, Brenda.
Front cover photo of the state tree, Sabal palmetto, Gil Nelson
taken in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge by the author $24.95

A Reference and Field Guide

Published by Pineapple Press, Inc.
Sarasota, Florida Pineapple Gil Nelson
Press
The Trees of Florida
Second Edition

A Reference and Field Guide

The Trees of Florida
Second Edition

A Reference and Field Guide

Gil Nelson

Pineapple Press, Inc.

Sarasota, Florida
 To Brenda Nelson and Hope Nelson,
for their love, encouragement, and patience.

Copyright © 2011 Gil Nelson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publisher.

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Pineapple Press, Inc.
P.O. Box 3889
Sarasota, Florida 34230

www.pineapplepress.com

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Nelson, Gil, 1949-

The trees of Florida : a reference and field guide / Gil Nelson. -- 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-56164-474-2 (hb : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-56164-475-9 (pb : alk. paper)
1. Trees--Florida. 2. Trees--Florida--Identification. 3. Trees--Florida--Pictorial works.
I. Title.
QK154.N44 2010
582.1609759--dc22
2010035144

Second Edition
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed and bound in the United States of America

 Table of Contents

Color plates are between pages 240 and 241

Acknowledgments 9
Introduction 13
Florida’s Tree Diversity 13
What is a Tree? 13
Native, Non-native, Invasive, Endangered 14
How To Use This Book 15
The Language of Botany 16
Glossary of Common Botanical Terms 17
Keys to Families, Genera, and Some Species 25

Species Accounts 43
GYMNOSPERMS (CONIFERS) 43
Araucaria Family (Araucariaceae) 43
Cedar Family (Cupressaceae) 44
Pine Family (Pinaceae) 50
Podocarpus Family (Podocarpaceae) 56
Yew Family (Taxaceae) 57

ANGIOSPERMS - MONOCOTS 60
Palm Family (Arecaceae or Palmae) 60

ANGIOSPERMS - DICOTS 73
Acanthus Family (Acanthaceae) 73
Moschatel Family (Adoxaceae) 77
Sweetgum Family (Altingiaceae) 80
Cashew Family (Anacardiaceae) 81
Pawpaw or Custard Apple Family (Annonaceae) 88
Oleander Family (Apocynaceae) 92
Holly Family (Aquifoliaceae) 97
Ginseng Family (Araliaceae) 108
Aster Family (Asteraceae or Compositae) 110
Birch Family (Betulaceae) 111
Bignonia Family (Bignoniaceae) 114
Borage Family (Boraginaceae) 119
Gumbo Limbo Family (Burseraceae) 122
Cactus Family (Cactaceae) 124
Wild Cinnamon Family (Canellaceae) 124
Hemp or Hackberry Family (Cannabaceae) 125
Caper Family (Capparaceae) 129
Papaya Family (Caricaceae) 131
Beefwood Family (Casuarinaceae) 132
Crecropia Family (Cecropiaceae) 134
Staff Tree Family (Celastraceae) 135
Coco Plum Family (Chrysobalanaceae) 139
Garcinia Family (Clusiaceae) 140
Combretum Family (Combretaceae) 143
Dogwood Family (Cornaceae) 148
Titi Family (Cyrillaceae) 151
Ebony Family (Ebenaceae) 153
Heath Family (Ericaceae) 155
Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae) 162
Legume Family (Fabaceae or Leguminosae) 170
Beech or Oak Family (Fagaceae) 196
Flacourtia Family (Flacourtiaceae) 218
Witch Hazel Family (Hamamelidaceae) 220
St. John’s-wort Family (Hypericaceae) 221
Star Anise Family (Illiciaceae) 223
Hickory or Walnut Family (Juglandaceae) 224
Mint Family (Lamiaceae or Labiatae) 232
Laurel Family (Lauraceae) 235
Corkwood Family (Leitneriaceae) 242
Loosestrife Family (Lythraceae) 243
Magnolia Family (Magnoliaceae) 244
Malpighia Family (Malpighiaceae) 249
Mallow Family (Malvaceae) 250
Melastome Family (Melastomataceae) 255
Mahogany Family (Meliaceae) 256
Mulberry Family (Moraceae) 258
Horseradishtree Family (Moringaceae) 267
Muntingia Family (Muntingiaceae) 268
Myoporum Family (Myoporaceae) 269
Bayberry Family (Myricaceae) 270
Myrsine Family (Myrsinaceae) 272
Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) 275
Four-o’clock Family (Nyctaginaceae) 287
Tupelo Family (Nyssaceae) 289
Olive Family (Oleaceae) 292
Princesstree Family (Paulowniaceae) 301
Phyllanthus Family (Phyllanthaceae) 302
Bitterbush Family (Picramniaceae) 303
Pittosporum Family (Pittosporaceae) 305
Planetree Family (Platanaceae) 306
 Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae) 307
Protea Family (Proteaceae) 309
Putranjiva Family (Putranjivaceae) 310
Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae) 311
Red Mangrove Family (Rhizophoraceae) 316
Rose Family (Rosaceae) 318
Madder Family (Rubiaceae) 341
Citrus Family (Rutaceae) 347
Willow Family (Salicaceae) 356
Sandalwood Family (Santalaceae) 363
Soapberry Family (Sapindaceae) 363
Sapodilla Family (Sapotaceae) 374
Schoepfia Family (Schoepfiaceae) 383
Quassia Family (Simaroubaceae) 384
Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) 385
Bladdernut Family (Staphyleaceae) 388
Storax Family (Styracaceae) 389
Bay Cedar Family (Surianaceae) 391
Sweetleaf Family (Symplocaceae) 392
Tamarisk Family (Tamaricaceae) 393
Tea Family (Theaceae) 394
Joewood or Theophrasta Family (Theophrastaceae) 395
Elm Family (Ulmaceae) 396
Vervain Family (Verbenaceae) 401
Ximenia Family (Ximeniaceae) 402
Caltrop Family (Zygophyllaceae) 404

Florida Native Plant Society 405

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council 405
References 406
Drawing Credits 413
Index to Common Names 415
Index to Scientific Names 423
 Fabaceae or Leguminosae

with uses ranging from fuel and improvement of fallow fields to green manure, fodder,
and shade for cacao and coffee crops.

Lead Tree, Jumbie Bean

Leucaena leucocephala (Lamarck) de Wit
Color Photo 245
Origin: Not native (West Indies), invasive, EPPC
listed
Form: Shrub or small, spreading, spineless
tree to about 5 m tall; bark smooth and gray-
brown on young trees, darker and roughened with age, and developing shallow,
vertical fissures.
Leaves: Alternate, bipinnately compound, 10–30 cm long with 4–8 pairs of segments,
each with 10–20 pairs of opposite, oblong leaflets, 8–14 mm long.
Flowers: Borne in yellowish-white to whitish globose heads to about 2 cm in diameter.
Fruit: A flat, reddish-brown or brown pod, 8–15 cm long, 2–4 cm wide, often borne in
dense, hanging clusters.
Distinguishing Marks: The whitish flowering heads and flattened pod set this species
apart from most other south Florida trees. The similar L. leucocephala subsp. glabrata
(Rose) Zárate is also naturalized in Florida from about Pinellas and Volusia counties
southward. Also called white lead tree, this subspecies is widely distributed in Mex-
ico and Central America and has been cultivated for hundreds of years. It grows to
about twice the height of the nominate variety (which is typically shrubby and profusely
branched) and becomes a tree with an upright trunk about 5 cm dbh and a more or less
narrow, open crown.
Distribution: Established in hammocks and waste places, largely of the coastal strand;
Alachua and Hillsborough counties southward and throughout the Keys.
Remarks: Some authors have treated lead trees as possibly native, though this view is
generally not accepted. It is widespread in southern Florida, primarily from cultivation.
The seeds have been used to fashion bracelets, necklaces, and other such trinkets, and
the foliage has been used for the production of fertilizer as well as feed for livestock.
Live plants are used in its native range as shade trees for coffee and cacao.

Dotted Lancepod
Lonchocarpus punctatus Kunth
Color Photo 246
Origin: Not native (tropical South America)
Form: Shrub or small tree to about 8 m tall.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with 2–8 pairs of leaflets and a single terminal
leaflet; leaflets opposite, oval or oblong, to about 6 cm long and 2 cm wide.
Flowers: Purple, fragrant, very showy, to about 1.5 cm long and borne in conspicuous
axillary racemes to about 9 cm long with stalks 2–3 cm long.

187
The Trees of Florida

Fruit: A flat, thin, linear pod to about 15 cm long; containing 1 to several flat seeds; seed
compartments separated by visible constrictions.
Distinguishing Marks: Similar in foliage to several non-native beans; partly distinguished
by combination of its pinnate leaves with opposite leaflets, racemose inflorescences of
purple flowers, and flattened fruit pod with conspicuous constrictions between the seed
compartments.
Distribution: Tropical hammocks; Florida Keys.
Remarks: The name L. violaceus (Jacquin) de Candolle has been misapplied to this
species.

Wild Tamarind, Bahama Lysiloma

Lysiloma latisiliquum (Linnaeus) Bentham
Origin: Native
Form: Small to medium-size deciduous tree (but consid-
ered large in comparison to other trees in the Keys), 10–20
m tall, with light gray or whitish bark.
Leaves: Alternate, bipinnately compound, 10–18 cm
long, with 2–4 pairs of segments, each segment with
8–30 pairs of leaflets; leaflets varying elliptic to ob-
long or lanceolate, 8–15 mm long, 3–5 mm wide,
nearly symmetrical.
Flowers: Small, borne in globular, greenish-white heads, 1.5–2 cm in di-
ameter; arising from the leaf axils in fascicles of 1–3 flowering heads; calyx
pubescent.
Fruit: A flat pod, 6–10 cm long, 2–4 cm wide, usually remaining on the tree throughout
the year.
Distinguishing Marks: Most easily recognized by its unarmed, zigzag branches, whit-
ish bark, and distinctive pod; distinguished from horseflesh mahogany (L. sabicu) by
leaflets averaging shorter than 1.5 cm and numbering 8 or more per segment in combina-
tion with the pubescent calyx.
Distribution: Disturbed sites, hammocks, pine-palmetto woodlands, mostly near the
coast; Collier and Miami-Dade counties southward, including the Keys.
Remarks: Wild tamarind is one of a small genus of about 35 species worldwide. It is
native and a common component of several tropical hammocks of the upper Keys and
Miami-Dade County. Wild tamarind is tough, salt-tolerant, and has few natural enemies.
It is also known to invade the pinelands that surround many of south Florida’s ham-
mocks. Frank Craighead, writing in the introduction to volume 1 of his Trees of South
Florida, describes the wild tamarind as one of the more characteristic trees of the pine
ridge hammock community.

188
 Fabaceae or Leguminosae

Horseflesh Mahogany, Sabicu

Lysiloma sabicu Bentham
Color Photos 247, 248, 249
Origin: Not native (West Indies, especially Cuba and Hispaniola), potentially invasive
Form: Small tree to about 8 m tall with gray, slightly scaly bark.
Leaves: Alternate, bipinnate, 10–20 cm long, with 2–4 pairs of primary segments, each
bearing 3–7 pairs of leaflets; leaflets 1–2.5 cm long, about 1 cm wide, varying oval to
obovate or ovate in outline, typically rounded at the apex and slightly tapered at base.
Flowers: White or greenish-white, borne in tightly held heads about 1.5 cm in diameter;
corolla tiny, tubular, bearing 15–20 long, showy stamens that are several times longer
than the corolla; appearing spring to fall; calyx glabrous.
Fruit: A brownish elliptical or oval pod, 7–15 cm long, 2–4 cm wide, with a bristlelike
apex; seeds flattened, 6–10 mm long; young pods varying not a little in outline, from
narrowly linear to broadly oval; pods often larger than and seemingly out of proportion
to the leaves.
Distinguishing Marks: Distinguished from the native wild tamarind (L. latisiliquum)
by combination of the leaflet pairs being 7 or less per segment, by many leaflets being
oval or obovate and more than 1.5 cm long, and by the sepals lacking hairs (requires
magnification).
Distribution: Hammocks; extreme south Florida, primarily Miami-Dade County.

Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn

Parkinsonia aculeata Linnaeus
Origin: Not native (tropical America, Mexico, southwestern U.S.)
Form: Shrub or small thorny tree to about 10 m tall; bark green when young,
turning reddish-brown with age; branches slender, spiny,
often weeping to form a more or less rounded crown; twigs
slightly zigzag.
Leaves: Alternate (but closely set and often
appearing clustered), bipinnate (sometimes
appearing pinnate), with 1–2 elongated
segments; segments green, photosynthetic,
to 50 cm long, bearing numerous tiny (2–4
mm long) leaflets that drop early to leave a
naked, greenish rachis; plants often appearing
leafless.
Flowers: Bright yellow, borne in short,
pendulous, 7–20-cm-long racemes at the leaf
axils; petals 5, slightly more than 1 cm long;
appearing in spring.
Fruit: A brown, elongated pod, 5–10 cm long with
narrowed constrictions between the seed cavities
and a long-pointed apex; seeds ellipsoid, 1–1.2
cm long.
189