Help ID plant grown from nut found on Puerto Rican beach

[tom_mn]

Last January I found a nut on a beach south of Rincon, Puerto Rico. The nut was roundish, larger than a filbert, and medium brown. The husk was very thick and I had to break the husk to get the nut to sprout. It is now growing so I wonder what it is. Any idea on what this tropical nut tree might be? Leaves are opposite and appear to be evergreen.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/1907420_459070700899010_1043802702738229209_n.jpg?oh=e768a8d8489460119ca4be22b781047a&oe=548B336B&__gda__=1422113962_ed99ad544422ea23da6ae0613d67ec86

Edited September 20, 2014 by tom_mn

[The Silent Seed]

Dang - Um…. I saw a huge thicket of these (I think ???) at the Deerfield Beach Arboretum in Florida - they looked just like this - but of course I can't remember the name now….. going to rack my brain now!

[The Silent Seed]

I'm vaguely remembering these words… Brazil, and Beauty…. or something along those lines…..

[The Silent Seed]

It came to me! Calophyllum brasilense. Think that's it?

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

yup

[mnorell]

I agree, I think it's a Calophyllum. But way too early to determine which species. Could also be Calophyllum inophyllum, which is a commonly grown species (from Asia, but now pan-tropical). These sea-beans wash up here in the Keys regularly. I really love these trees. And they are tolerant of just about anything mother nature wants to throw at them here.

[tom_mn]

Thank you, no doubt a calophyllum.

I am tending towards the native one, http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/calophyllum/calaba.htm Calophyllum calaba (perhaps the same as Calophyllum antillanum?) since this was a remote area, and a native species seems more likely.

Now how to keep it happy as an indoor plant.

Edited September 20, 2014 by tom_mn

[The Silent Seed]

Did you look for potential parents in the surrounding areas? The fact you found it on the beach suggests that it came from overseas, literally. Did the nut look weathered?

Mnorell - I didn't know they were a sea bean - that's very cool.

[tom_mn]

No promises, but it may actually be this tree, it came from around where this picture was taken. Notice other nuts on the sand underneath. This tree looks more like a ficus to me. https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/1011676_459237920882288_2635018643689353541_n.jpg?oh=190b60f616a35d464be308307fd8ebf2&oe=54CE76A1

[Moose]

No promises, but it may actually be this tree, it came from around where this picture was taken. Notice other nuts on the sand underneath. This tree looks more like a ficus to me. https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/1011676_459237920882288_2635018643689353541_n.jpg?oh=190b60f616a35d464be308307fd8ebf2&oe=54CE76A1

That looks like a tropical almond tree.

[Moose]

Terminalia catappa

[Moose]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st626

[tom_mn]

Now I am confused, are my tree potted and the pictured beach tree different, or are you saying my little tree is also a tropical almond?

[Moose]

Now I am confused, are my tree potted and the pictured beach tree different, or are you saying my little tree is also a tropical almond?

The photo link you posted in post #9 looks very similar to a tropical almond. I have volunteers popping up in my yard from the municipal mulch I use. Your sprouted seed does not appear to be a tropical almond (Terminalia catappa) in my opinion. I would defer to Jerry's ID, he is much more knowledgeable about trees than I.

[fastfeat]

Agreed that the seedling is Calophyllum (too small for me to guess species), not Terminalia catappa. Both reseed prolifically in Caribbean and elsewhere.

[tom_mn]

OK, thanks. Hopefully this will not be too hard of a houseplant to grow. I am skeptical because it has lept to over a foot height in a few months so may not be happy in a pot. I suppose I will have to snip the central leader at some point.

[The Silent Seed]

I've had these in pots - no problem. Just don't let it dry out.