Mystery tree (revisted)

[Walt]

A few months ago I posted a photo of a tree I grew from seed that was collected in Cancun, Mexico.

This tree has continued to drop leaves and produce new leaves all through the winter (dying leaves get reddish, then orange to brown and fall off). This in itself is puzzling to me as I thought, being a tropical tree, the leaves existing leaves would stay on the tree and then make a wholesale change in early spring.

On the other hand, the winter here (Lake Placid, Florida) has been mostly above normal through January, only now in February slightly below normal to normal or just above normal.

I believe in my earlier post a few folks said my tree looked to be some species of Terminalia.

I don't recall what species were indicated but if anyone has any guesses I want to do a Google search to see if I can find some photos to compare with mine.

I've overwintered this tree in my greenhouse (seen through left shadehouse wall) and used supplemental heat only once, two weeks ago on our coldest night.

I plan to plant this tree out come spring as I think this tree will grow faster once in the ground. I'm also curious as to just how much frost and low temperature this tree will be able to take. Of course, at its present size I'm sure it will take less cold than once large.

The below photo shows my tree as of today. It stands (including pot) about 6'-6" overall in height.

[leomx]

Seems like T. catappa to me, Walt.

[Walt]

My problem is that, in Riffle's book, The Tropical Look, it says this tree is completely decidous (in its native land) twice a year. My tree has never been close to being completely decidous, but then again, it's in a cultured setting (in pot) and is always watered and fertilized. It must be root bound as it drinks water copiously. I must plant it in a month or so.

[fiji jim]

We have these trees all around the coastline here.

They are commomly known as the tropical almond.

I have eaten the fruit.

Even here they are decidious. The locals use the leaf as medicine.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

It is definitely a Terminalia, and looks like T. catappa.  I just googled terminalia and was surprised to learn there are 100 species of this genus.  It almost always goes dormant here in SoFla in the dry season (now), epecially the large ones in unirrigated sites.

Jerry

[Zac in NC]

Looks like a Terminalia to me as well. Catappa is a very commonly planted tree from Brownsville south along the coast.

Zac

[Walt]

Jerry: I recall you thought (in my post many months ago) my tree was a tropical almond. I figured it was in the Terminalia genus, but I thought the species might be different. According to Riffle's The Tropical Look, there's 200 species of Terminalia.

Also, when Bob Riffle and I was down in Palm Beach county a few years ago he pointed out the tropical almond trees in the below photo.

My first thoughts (before Bob said anything) that the tree I was looking at had leaves (from a distance) the appeared like Magnolia. I thought, from the distance, that the leaves looked much tougher and thicker, like that of southern magnolia. However, my leaves are relatively thin and soft. So I guess looks from a distance can be decieving.

Walt

Palm Beach, Florida, tropical almond trees:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1081622444042496162siCPPU

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

When the leaves are young or grown in shade, they are relativly supple.  I bet if you plant that in full sun the leaves will toughen up.

Jerry