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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.
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
Gil Nelson
Sarasota, Florida
To Brenda Nelson and Hope Nelson,
for their love, encouragement, and patience.
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.
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Second Edition
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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
with uses ranging from fuel and improvement of fallow fields to green manure, fodder,
and shade for cacao and coffee crops.
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.
188
Fabaceae or Leguminosae