tree

Jamaican Dogwood

The Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula) is also known as the Florida Fish Fuddle Tree. It is a medium-sized tree that inhabits the coastline from Miami-Dade County through Monroe County including the Florida Keys, north along Florida’s west coast to Pinellas County. The Jamaican Dogwood is also a local tree in Central America and the West Indies. It can now be found in Texas, Mexico, and the northern part of South America.
For years, the Jamaican Dogwood has been used traditionally as a remedy for nerve pain, migraine, insomnia, anxiety, fear, and nervous tension. However, the tree is toxic to humans. Native Americans once used the tree as a fish poison by pouring pieces of bark and leaves from the tree into small bays. The rotenone of the tree would make fish float to the surface where the fishermen could easily grab them. Experts consider all parts of the Jamaican Dogwood tree to be poisonous when ingested.
The Jamaican Dogwood can grow up to 20 feet. The bark is yellow or grayish-brown on the outer surface, and lighter colored or white on the inner surface. The bright green leaves of these trees grow alternately and are about half an inch wide and 2-4 inches long. The wood is resistant to decay and is perfect for woodworking. In The Keys, Jamaican Dogwood is found in the upper canopy. It makes a wonderful shade tree for your yard or garden in subtropical and tropical habitats. Hammock skipper butterflies use the trees as larval hosts.
Author: Steven Marquez- Valencia College student
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
Work Cited:
Accessed on 14 October 2021.
Woodmansee, W. Steven. “The Fabulous Florida Fish Fuddle Tree.” Florida Native Plant Society Blog, 03 May 2014, http://fnpsblog.blogspot.com/…/fabulous-florida-fish… http://fnpsblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/fabulous-florida-fish-
Accessed on 14 October 2021.
Landscape Plants University of Florida IFAS https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/Pages/pispis/pispis.shtml Accessed on 14 October 2021
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Brazillian Peppertree

The Brazillian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia, is one of the most invasive plants in Florida. Native to Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, this aggressive plant was introduced as an ornamental plant and now inhabits over 700,000 acres of terrestrial and aquatic habitats throughout the state. This small tree or evergreen shrub can grow to 30 feet tall and will shade out all other plants beneath its dense canopy. A variety of birds and mammals such as raccoons and opossums eat the berries and disperse the seed on the land and in waterways.
From September through November the peppertree blooms with 2-3 inch white flower clusters. Bright red berries appear in November. Floridians once called this plant the Florida Holly and used its branches for Christmas decorations. Brazillian peppertree is a member of the Anacardiaceae family which includes poison ivy and poison sumac. Human skin may be sensitive to the plant and some folks may experience respiratory issues. It has been declared a Class I -“Prohibited Aquatic Plant” by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Control methods include mechanical removal, chemical treatment, and biological treatment which includes two insects – Brazilian peppertree thrips, Pseudophilothrips ichini, and Yellow Brazilian peppertree leaf gallers, Calophya latiforceps.
Photo Credit: Bobby Putnam lian
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Poisonwood Tree

The Poisonwood tree (Metopium Toxiferum) is a medium-sized (25-35 feet tall) tree that only grows in South Florida but it is also native to most of the Caribbean. The color of the bark can have more than two colors, ranging from yellows and oranges to reds and browns. However, a primary characteristic of the poisonwood tree trunk is black blotches formed by urushiol resin that has oxidized.
The flowering season occurs all year long, but its peak is during the spring season. The poisonwood grows female and male flowers on separate trees. The female flowers produce oblong orange fruits that serve as food for many types of birds including the endangered white-crowned pigeon.
Nevertheless, the poisonwood tree is part of the family of the poison oak and contains oleoresin urushiol, the same skin-irritating compound that puts the poison in poison ivy. The toxin of the poisonwood tree is so toxic that standing under its leaves during a rainy day can cause irritation and rashes on human skin.
All of us need to be capable of identifying this tree during visits to the park or when going hiking to the beautiful natural places of South Florida and the Florida Keys.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
Author: Steven Marquez – Student, Valencia College
Work Cited: Wild South Florida. “Poisonwood.” Wild South Florida 10/15/2021
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American Sycamore

The American sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, is a beautiful tree that grows 100 – 170 feet tall with a diameter of 3-14 feet. Its bark is white at first but turns brown as it grows. As the tree ages, the scales fall away and reveal the whitish-green bark beneath. Its distinctive leaves and green globe-shaped fruit make it easy to recognize. Songbirds dine on the seeds.

Sycamore trees are native from southern Canada to northern Florida. However, the tree has been planted far south of its range in Florida. The tree pictured in these images is located at Lake Lily in Central Florida.

Sycamore trees are known for their hurricane resistance and the ability of their intertwining root system to stabilize erosion. This makes them perfect specimens to plant in parks near waterways. The trees also tolerate acidic soils and as a result, they have been planted at phosphate mining sites. Before planting this beautiful shade tree in your yard, consider the height as well as the debris from falling bark and fruit.

Photo credit: Dan Kon

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Manchineel

Manchineel (Hippomane mancinella) grows in the Florida Keys and Everglades. Every part of the manchineel tree is poisonous. A milky sap oozes from this tree and its leaves. The greenish-yellow apple-like fruit is poisonous. This tree is so toxic that if a leaf brushes across your face it can cause temporary or permanent blindness. To some this tree is fatal. It is classified by the Guinness World Book of Records as the most dangerous tree in the world. When a tree is located it is marked with a warning to keep people away from it.

The Manchineel can grow as high as 50 feet. It can be found along the coast in brackish water. This tree is endangered but grows in clusters when encountered.
Its roots prevent erosion and it serves as a natural windbreak.

The Manchineel does not depend on birds and animals to spread its seeds. It drops its fruit and nearby water carries the buoyant fruit until eventually the fruit rots and it spreads its seeds.

The Manchineel is sometimes known as the beach apple. Early Spanish explorers called it, la manzanilla de la muerte, which translates to “the little apple of death,” or as Arbol de la Muerte, “tree of death.” Legend says that the tip of the arrow that killed Ponce de Leon was dipped in the sap of the Manchineel. If you ever encounter this tree do not touch it or breathe near it. Quickly move away from it.

Photo credit: Beach apple picture UF IFAS Blogs
We believe this picture was taken with a long lens camera

 

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