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INTRODUCTION
This key and concise description of common trees will help
you become familiar with but a fraction (although ones you are
most likely to see) of the hundreds of native and exotic trees on our
campuses and in the area. In this introduction I would like to first
show you how to use this little guide as well as discuss the
rationale and importance for the scientific names used in it. First,
it is necessary to define what a tree is, since it is a somewhat
relative term. When do you stop calling a plant a shrub and start
calling it a tree? For the purpose of this guide a tree is a woody
plant at least 4 meters (13 feet) high that grows from a single
vertical trunk. Sometimes the trunk may be exceedingly short and
immediately branch, but usually it is much taller. Sometimes the
trunk may not branch at all. Some plants may superficially
resemble a tree, like a banana, but are not woody. Other plants
may grow as shrubs or as low trees, as the Surinam cherry (left out
of this key). The large majority of plants described here are clearly
trees by anyone's definition, but there are a few that may cause
problems.
The scientific naming of plants provides a clear procedure for
the objective description of a plant in a way independent of culture
or local language. The system of naming used today was codified
by Carl Von Linńe (Linnaeus) in the 18th century. Linńe followed
the practice of others in using the internationally accepted
scholarly language of that time and earlier, Latin, and gave each
plant variety a two-worded name, the so-called binomial. Each
scientific name consists of a generic name (or genus) written first,
followed by a species name. We'll use a very obnoxious plant that
has become part of South Florida life as an example: melaleuca.
We may also know the plant as the cajeput tree (referring to
traditional medicinal uses of the plant), or the paperbark tree. The
full scientific name for the tree that has established in our area is
Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake. In this case one of
the common names was derived from its generic name (which was
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derived from the Greek, for the black trunk and white branches of
one species). The full scientific name also includes a standard
abbreviation of the authority who published the name, and can
ultimately be traced back to the publication and the population of
plants collected and studied. Thus, a scientific name is a summary
of the whole procedure for naming the plant. In the paperbark tree
the author's name is a bit complicated because the plant was
originally published as part of another genus (author's name of
Cav., for Cavanilles) and then later published in its present genus
by S.T. Blake. I have included a brief list in this guide to give you
some of the historically important botanists who gave our common
plants their names. The key and the alphabetical list use the
scientific name for each tree, but the common names are also
placed in the list. A little about pronouncing these Latin names.
Actually they are pronounced differently in the U.S. compared to
Europe, so you can get by with saying just about anything. Use the
following as a general guide, however. Final vowels have a long
sound. "Y" always sounds like a short "i". Words of two syllables
are accented on the first. In long names the accent falls on the next
to last syllable if it is a long sound, on the third from last if short.
Using the Key and List. A key is like a puzzle. It is a sequence of
decisions you must make about the appearance of the plant you are
trying to identify. Each (hopefully!) correct choice leads you
further along, and you finally arrive at a choice that gives you the
correct name of the plant. At almost every point you have but two
alternatives except for three at #13 and #63. The characteristics
used for the identifications in this key are all vegetative: leaf
characteristics, tree form, appearance of bark, etc. For most trees
flowering is brief, and use of flower characters would not allow the
use of this key most of the year. Even when trees lose their leaves
(deciduousness) they may also be used as an aid in identification;
you may pick some up off of the ground and see the scars for their
former position on the branches. A pictorial description of all
characters to be used is provided just before the beginning of the
key. Simply start at number one and go to the higher numbers
your diagnosis indicates. Once you find your plant in the key you
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may check out your diagnosis further by going to the list and
learning more about the plant: its origin, common names, and
miscellaneous tidbits of information. For some genera, such as
figs (Ficus) and oranges (Citrus) the key will lead you to only one
of several species, the most common one included in the key.
Thus, the total number of species in the key (104) is augmented by
others in the list to make a total of 148 species. There are
hundreds more of rare plants in the area, but chances are 95 out of
100 that the plant you are trying to determine will be in the key or
list. Become familiar with these as well.
A word of caution before using the key; you may be asked to
handle a plant, even crush its leaves, to answer a question on the
key. Virtually all of us are sensitive to poison wood (Metopium
toxiferum). Be sure that you can recognize this small tree (find it
in the list and under #84 in the key). Poisonwood does not grow
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on campus. Some may also be sensitive to the mango and the
Brazilian Pepper.
The list of plants reflects two contributions. The first is the
large number of exotic plants that naturally occur in similar
climates in different parts of the world: especially India, the
Caribbean and Australia. These plants are adapted to a dry season
(usually in a mild winter) and may lose most or all of their leaves
in response to it. The second contribution is a desire by many
(including myself) to introduce as many of our fascinating native
plants as elements in landscape design as possible. Some, as the
mahogany and Florida Black Olive, are widely used. Others
deserve to be used more. It is a means of learning about, and
caring for, our natural heritage.
Finding The Plant on the Tamiami Campus. If you see a plant
in the list and would like to become acquainted with it, the list will
refer back to the number in the key for its final identification.
Then you can trace it back to learn its vegetative characteristics.
The list also includes at least one location on campus, with letters
keyed to buildings, parking lots or the Ecosystem Preserve, all
keyed to the accompanying campus map. A few of the common
plants are not found on campus, listed in the descriptions as OC..
However, you will find the campus to be a rich collection of plants,
many more than are included in the key and list.
Acknowledgments. Mr. Charles Henington, former Head of
Grounds (and deceased in 1988) worked for many years to make
the campus into a valuable arboretum of trees as well as a beautiful
landscape. Faculty and students have also added many species on
Arbor Day, in April of each year.
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A KEY TO 104 COMMON TREE SPECIES
ON THE FIU CAMPUS AND IN THE MIAMI AREA
1. Leaves present…………………………………..…….…4
1. Leaves absent, reduced or scalelike………….…………2
2. Leaves absent, twigs or stems succulent………………….3
2. Thin cylindrical and jointed green branches,
dark leaf scales at joints, swaying branches
with persistent spherical compound
fruits..……………………………. Casuarina equisetifolia
3. Branches thick, green, ribbed and
and vertical, leaves present as
spines..…………………………..……. Cereus peruvianus
3. Tip branches thin, green and
cylindrical, white latex, low
tree…………………………………… Euphorbia tirucalli
4. Leaves present, needle-like………………………………..5
4. Leaves present, otherwise…………………………………7
5. Needles rounded and long
(more than 10 cm), 2-3 per
bunch, scaly bark and
persistent cones…………………. Pinus elliottii var. densa
5. Needles flattened and short
(less than 3 cm long)………………………………………6
6. Needles spirally arranged to
1 cm long, evergreen, tree
cone-shaped…………………….. Araucaria heterophylla
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6. Needles form flat surface to 2 cm
long, deciduous, branches wide
spreading…………………………… Taxodium distichum
7. Leaves strap or swordshaped, many parallel veins,
in spirals at branch tips……..……………………….……8
7. Leaves otherwise………………………………………..…9
8. Tall fast growing trees,
yellow flowers in cylindrical
inflorescences most of year,
twisted pods too. “Leaves”
alternate and leathery with
parallel veins, slight sickle shape……Acacia auriculiformis
8. Single trunk with many branches,
leaf margins usually toothed,
conspicuous prop roots, composite
persistant pineapple-shaped
fruit…………………………….………. Pandanus tectorius
9. Leaves extremely large (1.5 m
or more long)……………………………………………..10
9. Leaves otherwise, more
typically "leaf-like………………………………………. 24
10. Young leaf margins smooth
until torn with single central
vein, leaves "banana-like"……..………..…………………11
10. Leaves lobed, toothed, or
compound (“palm-like”)……….……….…………………12
11. Leaf bases form soft “trunk”,
blades emerge at different
angles at tip of stalk…………………...….Musa paradisiaca
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11. leaves produced at opposite
angles on a thick, rough and
columnar trunk…………………Ravenala madagascarensis
12. Leaves twice compound,
leaflets looking like
fish tails, multiple rough
trunks…………
……………………… Caryota mitis
12. Leaves toothed, lobed or
once compound…………..……………………………….13
13. Veins, lobes, or seqments,
palmate……………………..……………………………..14
13. Veins, lobes, or segments,
pinnate……………………….……………………………17
13. Base of leaf palmate, but
becoming pinnate towards
tip (costapalmate)……..……………………. Sabal palmetto
14. Trunks clumped……………………………………………15
14. Trunks solitary……………………………………………..16
15. Trunks low and sprawling,
covered with old leaf bases
petiole with fine green teeth……..…………. Serenoa repens
15. Trunks erect, covered with
matting and old leaf bases,
petioles with orange teeth..…………. Acoelorrhaphe wrightii
16. Trunks erect, slender and
mostly clean, on old
individuals, leaves with
orange center…………………………..…… Thrinax radiata
16. Trunks erect and massive
(to 60 cm diameter), clean
or slightly covered…………………….Washingtonia robusta
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17. Trunks solitary………………………..……………………18
17. Trunks clumped……..……………………….Dypsis lutescens
18. Trunk smooth………………………………………………20
18. Trunk rough………………………………………………..19
19. Trunk massive with persistent
leaf bases, leaves to 5 m long,
spines at base of petiole,
leaflets induplicate………………………Phoenix canariensis
19. Trunk thick and short,
occasionally branched,
leaves to 2 m, leaflets flat,
glossy green and leathery……………………..Cycas revoluta
20. Crownshaft (or sheath around
leaf bases) present………………………………………….22
20. Crownshaft absent…………………………………………..21
21. Base of trunk thickened,
tall, mature trunks curving,
leaves to 5 m long, arching…………………….Cocos nucifera
21. Trunk. straight and irregularly
bulging, leaves to 5 m long,
drooping………………………... Arecastrum romanzoffianum
22. Trunk entirely smooth, thick
(around 30 cm) but with
irregular bulges………………………………..Roystonea elata
22. Trunk with prominent ring scars
(circles around trunk)………………………………………. 23
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23. Trunk darkened by ring scars,
crown shaft short and thick,
base of trunk swollen, prominent red fruits……………………………….Veitchia merrillii
23. Trunk with raised circular ring
scars 2-10 cm apart, leaflet
undersides grey…….…………………. Ptychosperma elegans
24. Leaves compound……..……………...………………….…74
24. Leaves simple………………………..……………………..25
25. Leaves clumped at tips of short shoots…….………..………26
25. Leaves arranged along part of the
length of the shoot…………………………………………..28
26. Large oblong leaves more than 15 cm long,
leathery in texture…………………..…….Terminalia catappa
26. Leaves much less than 15 cm long………………………….27
27. Leaves elliptic and leathery, producing
sticky white latex when broken off…..……..Manilkara zapota
27. Light green obovate and soft-texture
leaves…………………………………….…….Bucida buceras
28. Leaves alternate….…………………..…………………….38
28. Leaves opposite or whorled.………………….……............29
29. Leaf margin entire………………………………………..…31
29. Leaves toothed or lobed…………………………………….30
30. Leaves 3-lobed and toothed………………….…..Acer rubrum
30. Leaves roundish and toothed………………….Duranta repens
31. Leaves not aromatic when crushed…………………………33
31. Leaves aromatic when crushed……………………………..32
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32. Leaves elliptic to 17 cm, allspice odor,
smooth bark…………………..………………. Pimenta dioica
32. Leaves elliptic to 10 cm, slight mango
odor, rough and dark bark……………………Syzygium cumini
33. Plants with yellowish latex or milky sap……………………34
33. Plants without latex or milky sap……………………………35
34. Conspicuous parallel side veins
on leathery blunt leaves, to
15 cm, persistent fruit, brown
and wrinkled at maturity……….….. Calophyllum inophyllum
34. Tip of leaf inverted, parallel
veins not conspicuous on thick
leathery leaves to 20 cm long…………………….Clusia rosea
35. Leaves thick, leathery and
evergreen……………..……………………………………..38
35. Leaves not as above…………………………...…………….36
36. 3 leaves oppose each other,
prominent scar joins each………… .………..Hamelia patens
36. No such scar connecting
opposed leaves……..……………………………………….37
37. Oval pinnately veined and.
blunt leaves (7-14 cm long)
somewhat hairy, especially
underneath………………...……………….…Psidium guajave
37. Leaves oval (3 cm long),
short petioled, deciduous,
stems four-angled……………………….Lagerstroemia indica
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38. Leaves oblong, entire, (dark
green) with blunt tips, with
conspicuous reddish aerial
roots……………………………………….Rhizophora mangle
38. Plants not as above…………………………..………………39
39. Leaves with blades to base,
whitish underneath (from salt),
aerial roots--pneumatophores……..…….Avicennia germinans
39. Not as above………………………..………………………..40
40. Leaves entire, oblong blunt, 2
conspicuous glands on short
petiole, smaller glands on
leaf undersides……… ……………...Laguncularia racemosa
40. Leaves entire, dark green and
persistent, rounded with point
(3-6 cm), crowded on stems…………… Ligustrum japonicum
41. Leaves divided at tip into two
lobes…..………………….……………... Bauhinia purpurea
41. Leaves with single tip………….……………………..…….42
42. Leaves entire………..………………………………………47
42. Leaves lobed or toothed……..……………………………...43
43. Leaves large, to 60 cm…………..………………………….44
43. Leaves normal to 20 cm……..……………………………..45
44. Plants with latex, normally
branchless leaves to 60 cm
palmately lobed……….………………………Carica papaya
44. Leaves large (about 60 cm long)
7-9 pointed lobes with teeth,
toothed with petioles to center
of blade, glands on petiole…………………..Ricinus communis
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45. lance-shaped leaf margins are coarsely
toothed, dense woolly hairs………..……..Eriobotrya japonica
45. Leaves are finely toothed………..………….……………….46
46. Heart shape, rough
surface but not hairy……..………………………Morus rubra
46. Oval leaves with sharp tip,
hairy all over, persistant
orange fruits on small branches…………..Trema micranthum
47. Leaves aromatic when crushed…………….…………..……48
47. Leaves not aromatic when crushed………………………….57
48. Capsules or flowers clustered near
branch tips, persist most of year………..………….………..49
48. Capsules or flowers, not so………………………………….50
49. Leaves hairy, branches drooping,
frequently with red flowers……...……... Callistemon citrinus
49. Conspicuously parallel veins on
leaves, not hairy, occasional
white flowers……………………….Melaleuca quinquenervia
50. Leaves with bay leaf fragrance……………………………..51
50. Leaves with other fragrance………………………………..53
51. Tree low to 5 m, leaves
elliptic, to 6 cm, occasionally with
teeth at tip, evergreen, with
persistent waxy grey berries………….……….Myrica cerifera
51. Leaves much longer and more oval…………………………52
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52. Undersurface of oval leaves
is chalky white…………………………….…Persea borbonia
52. Low tree to 10 m, leaves
alternate/whorled, sweet odor
when crushed, gray beneath……………..Magnolia virginiana
53. Citrus odor when crushed,
flattened petioles jointed
to blade, spines, evergreen,
dots on leaves………………….………………..Citrus species
53. Leaves with other odors or
appearances………………………………………………….54
54. Capsules scattered along branch…………. Eucalyptus species
54. Trees large, to 15 m, leaves
elongate (to about 30 cm),
spreading crown, new growth
flushes bright red……………………………Mangifera indica
55. Leaves and twigs with white
latex………………………………………………………….53
55. Leaves and twigs produce
no latex………………………………………………………56
53. Leaves leathery, dark green
and shiny above, soft cinnamon
brown hairs beneath…….………….Chrysophyllum oliviforme
53. Leaves otherwise…………………………………………….54
54. Leaves oblong pointed (20-40 cm)
on branch tips, plant branches
dichotomously, deciduous in
winter…………………………………..…….. Plumeria rubra
54. Plants evergreen, leaves and
branches different than above……………………………….55
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55. Leaves elliptic (5-10 cm) shiny
and clustered at branch tips,
evergreen, latex very sticky
no stipules….………………………………. Manilkara zapota
55. Leaves shiny and ovate (3-6 cm),
pointed at tip, plant evergreen
with aerial roots, latex sticky,
stipule covers apical bud, like spear…………….. Ficus aurea
56. Leaves dark green with stiff
sandpapery texture, oval
with pointed tip to
20 cm long …………………….………..….Cordia sebestena
56. Leaves otherwise…………………………..………………..57
57. Leaves extremely elongate
(1 x 10 cm), leathery but not
shiny, spirally arranged,
usually a small tree or large
shrub…………….………………….Podocarpus macrophylla
57. Leaves otherwise……………..………..……………………58
58. Leaves round to heart-shaped……………………………….59
58. Leaves oval to lanceolate……………………………………61
59. Heart-shaped leaves palmately
veined, leathery, white hairs on
undersurface……………………………..…Hibiscus tiliaceus
59. Leaves more or less round……………………………..……60
60. Leaves pinnately veined
(to 20 cm long), circular,
glossy and very leathery, with
thick veins…………………………..……Coccoloba uvifera
60. Leaves round (to 8 cm long)
thick and shiny…………………………Chrysobalanus icaco
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61. Leaves very small, less than
6 cm long………………………………………………….…62
61. Leaves larger, more than 8 cm long…………………………64
62. Leaves soft and deciduous………………Lagerstroemia indica
62. Leaves more leathery and trees evergreen…………………..63
63. Leaves oval to 4 cm long,
glossy, evergreen, occasionally
with teeth towards leaf tip, edges
turned under……………………………….Quercus virginiana
63. Leaves dark green, margins flat,
red berries much of year……………………….…..Ilex cassine
64. Petioles short, less than 1 cm………………………………..68
64. Petioles long, more than 2 cm………………………………65
65. Leaf margins are wavy……………………….Mimusops elengi
65. Leaf margins are flat………..…………………………….…66
66. Leaves oval (5-15 cm long)
leathery and usually evergreen,
undersurface whitish, downy
when young, avocado fruits
mature in summer to fall………………….. Persea americana
66. Leaf undersurface green………………………………….…70
70. Leaf undersurface green,
fragrance, surface shiny
green………………………………..Citharexylum fruticosum
70. Shiny pointed leaves
(8-15 cm) in two ranks
on drooping branches,
frequent inconspicuous
but strongly fragrant
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flowers………………………………………Cananga odorata
71. Leaves stiff, thick and leathery………..……………………72
71. Leaves normal in texture…………………..………………..73
72. Trunk with swollen base,
upturned branches leaves
in two ranks to 8 cm long,
persistent swollen heartshaped compound, fruits……………………….Annona glabra
72. Leaves light green, margins inrolled,
persistant green fruit on stems…………..….Myrsine floridana
73. Leaves oval (5-10 cm long),
twin glands at base of blade
and on upper surface, persistent
dark spherical (1 cm dia.)
fruiting heads; silver leaved
variety also common …………………….Conocarpus erectus
73. Leaves more lance shaped,
curved back towards stem……..……..……Bumelia salicifolia
74. Leaves palmately compound………………………………75
74. Leaves pinnately compound…………………………….....78
75. Leaves extremely large, with
stipules (to 80 cm long) with
8 leaflets (to 30 cm long)
clustered at ends of erect
trunks……………………………..……Brassaia actinophylla
75. Leaves smaller, without
stipules………………………………………………………76
76. Leaves opposite with five
leaflets (to 15 cm)……………………………..Tabebuia rosea
76. Leaves alternate……………………………………………..77
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77. Branches spiny and green,
6-7 toothed leaflets
(8-18 cm) deciduous in
winter, latex …………………………………Chorisa speciosa
77. Pointed leaflets (8-20 cm)
with toothed edges……….……..………….Bischofia javanica
78. Leaves once pinnately compound……………………………86
78. Leaves twice pinnately compound……...……………………79
79. Leaves opposite…………………..…………………………80
79. Leaves alternate….………………..……………………...…81
80. 10-16 pairs of leaflets,
1-2 cm long, margins
smooth, pointed and
dark green, smooth bark………………Jacaranda mimosifolia
80. 12-20 pairs of leaflets,
oval pointed and with
teeth, rough bark………………….….Koelreuteria paniculata
81. Leaflet blades falling off,
petioles flat and winged,
pods persistent, narrowed between seeds, spines, yellow
flowers appearing all year…………….…Parkinsonia aculeata
81. Plants otherwise…………………………………………..…82
82. Large trees, to 15 m…………………………………………83
82. Small trees, to 4 m…………………………………………..84
83. Large trees with wide spreading
crowns, deciduous in winter,
persistent flat woody pods to
40 cm long………………………..………….….Delonix regia
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83. Leaves large (30-60 cm long)
with 8-10 pairs of pinnae,
each with 10-20 pairs of
oblong leaflets (20 mm long),
persistent red pods to 10 cm
long very attractive, large tree…...Peltophormum pterocarpum
84. Trees with thorns on branches
fragrant small yellow powderpuff
flowers much of year, small leaves
with tiny leaflets, < 5 mm………..…………Acacia farnesiana
84. Trees without thorns on branches……………..……………85
85. Small trees to 8 m, 2 pinnae
with 2 leaflets each, 3-4 cm
long, persistent pods curled
when opening……………..….Pithecellobium quadalupense
85. Smaller trees with zigzagging
branches, 3-5 pairs of pinnae
and 10-20 leaflets (1 cm long)
mottled black flat and twisted
pods (about l cm long)…………………Lysiloma latisiliquum
86. Leaflets less than ten pairs…………………………………88
86. Leaflets many more..……………………………………….87
87. Leaflets (2-5 cm long) oblong
and blunt, bark a pale
gray……………………………….…..Adenanthera pavonina
87. Leaflets (1-2 cm long),
conspicuous cinnamon brown
thick pod present most of
the year……………………………….…..Tamarindus indica
88. Leaves alternate……………………………………………92
88. Leaves opposite……………………………………………89
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89. Leaflets less than 2 cm long,
twigs jointed where leaves attach………………………….91
89. leaflets more than 4 cm, twigs
not jointed………………………………………………….90
90. Small trees with odd-compound
leaves, 4-5 pairs of leaflets
fruits star-shaped in cross-section present most
of year……………………….…………Averrhoa carambola
90. Large trees with odd-compound
leaves, 4-8 pairs of oval
irregularly shaped leaflets
(8-12 cm long), shiny and dark
green, peperomi-shaped fruit…….….Spathodea campanulata
91. Small trees, less than 2 m,
3 pairs of leaflets, each with tiny
point……………………………..………Guaiacum sanctum
91. larger trees, to 8 m, 7 pairs of
Leaflets, round at tip………………………Bulnesia arborea
92. Trees with odd-compound leaves
(make sure you know Metopium
toxiferum, 84, before going further,
otherwise don't touch plants)………………………………96
92. Trees with even-compound leaves…………………………93
93. Leaflets stalked (2-7 cm long),
ovate, fruits are persisting
pear-shaped erect and hard wooden
capsules…………………………………Swietenia mahogani
93. Not as above………………………………………………..93
94. Leaf margins with teeth,
leaves asymmetrical, rough bark………….Azadirachta indica
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94. Leaf margins smooth, without teeth………..………………95
95. Leaflets (4-6 cm long) very
leathery, dark and shiny above,
blunt tips, evergreen…………….………….Simarouba glauca
95. Leaves oblong and sharppointed (8-18 cm long)………………….…Harpullia arborea
96. Leaflets not aromatic………………………………………..96
95. Leaflets aromatic, peppery
odor, margins slightly toothed,
small trees covered with red
berries winter and spring………..……Schinus terebinthifolius
96. Leaflets asymmetrical (3-5 cm
long) on hairy twigs, striking
smooth reddish-brown scaling
bark…………………………………..……Bursera simarouba
96. Bark and plant not as above…………………………………97
97. Black marks on trunk and
splotches on the five
leaflets (about 15 cm long)
due to sap, don't touch, very
irritating…………………………….…….Metopium toxiferum
97. Plants otherwise……………………………………………..98
98. Leaflets less than 4 cm long
Pods flat, almost membrane-like
with 1-3 seeds, 3-5 leaflets,
oval and sharp tipped……………………….Dalbergia sissoo
98. Leaflets more than 10 cm long……………………………99
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99. Leaflets (in 4-8 pairs, each
5-15 cm long) ovate and
pointed, light green, persistent
cylindrical pods (30 cm
long)…………………….………………………Cassia fistula
99. Plants otherwise……………………………………………100
100. Trees with bright red fruits
opening to display thin black
seeds, 3-5 pairs of oblong
sharp tipped and short petioled
leaflets to 15 cm long………………………..Blighia sapida
100. Trees with fruits as
persistent pods, leaves
different, 5-7 leaflets……………………………………..101
101. Pods thick (3-6 cm long)
1-seeded, persistent, shiny dark
green oblong and pointed
leaflets……….………………….. ………Pongamia pinnata
101. Pods very small and 4-winged,
dull gray-green and blunt tipped
leaflets…………………………………….Piscidia piscipula
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ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PLANTS PLACED IN THE KEY,
INCLUDING SOME NEAR RELATIVES
(##) is location of identification in key. Letters on right margin
indicate an accessible location where plant can be seen. Caps
indicate buildings or other locations on campus map, and –S, etc.
indicate the direction from the building.
Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. Ex Benth. FABACEAE. Ear leaf
Acacia. Native to Australia, used as a firewood tree in the tropics,
invasive in South Florida.
(8) EP-W
Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. FABACEAE. Fragrant Acacia.
Native to Central America, valuable as a source of fragrance oils
used in perfumery, attrractive landscape tree in South Florida.
(83) WC-E
Acer rubrum L. ACERACEAE. Red Maple. Native to North
America, to South Florida (in swamps in Big Cypress). Part of the
autumn show of red elsewhere, not here.
(27) VH-S
Acoelorrhapte wrightii (Grisb. & Wendl.) H. Wendle.
ARECACEAE. Paurotis or Everglades Palm. Clumping thatch
palm native to Everglades swamps, and other areas in Caribbean.*
(15) EC-N
Adenanthera pavonina L. LEGUMINOSAE. Red Bead Tree,
Coral Wood. Native to Southeast Asia, attractive red seeds used
for necklaces, wood is excellent for cabinetry.
(86) AP-W
26
Annona glabra L. ANNONACEAE. Pond apple. Native to
South Florida, Central America and West Africa. It is closely
related to several well-known tropical fruit trees: Annona
muricata L. (Soursop or Guanabana), A. reticulata L. (Custard
Apple) and A. squamosa L. (Sugar Apple).
(71) DM-W
Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.) Franco. ARAUCARIACEAE.
Norfolk Island Pine. Native to only that small island southeast of
Australia. The common “Christmas tree” of urban landscapes in
Miami.
(6) P1-S
Arecastrum romanzoffianum (Cham.) Becc. PALMAE. Queen
Palm. Native to Southern Brazil, one of most common ornamental
palms in South Florida.
(2l) VH-E
Averrhoa carambola L. OXALIDACEAE. The Carambola or
Starfruit. Native to Southeast Asia but cultivated throughout the
tropics. Fruit eaten fresh or as part of salad, produced
commercially near Homestead.
(89) RB-S
Avicennia germinans (L.) L. VERBENACEAE. Black Mangrove.
Part of the mangrove forest community growing as far north as
central Florida. Leaves light-colored and salty on undersurfaces
(36) BB
Azadirachta indica L. MELIACEAE. Neem Tree. The “miracle”
tree of South Asia, used medicinally and marketed everywhere as
an herbal insecticide. Leaves sought by Indian community in
Miami. The related Chinaberry (Melia azadirach L.) is similar in
appearance, but with twice pinnately compound leaves.
(93) AP-W
27
Bauhinia purpurea L. FABACEAE. Purple Orchid Tree. Native
to Southeast Asia, fragrant flowers in winter. Several other species
are in cultivation, Bauhinia variegata similar but with white
flowers.
(38) AR-N
Bischofia javanica Blume. EUPHORBIACEAE. Bischofia. A
tree, native to Southeast Asia, and valuable for its timber there. A
popular landscape tree here but susceptible to shattering in high
winds and invasive.
(76) PC-N
Blighia sapida K. Konig. SAPINDACEAE. Akee. Native to
West Africa. Introduced throughout the Caribbean (especially
Jamaica) where its fleshy seed covering (aril) is eaten when fully
ripe. The rest of the fruit and the immature aril are poisonous.Two
related species are Sapindus saponaria L. (soapberry) and Litchi
chinensis Sonn. (lychee)
(100) RB-S
Brassaia actinophylla Endl. ARALIACEAE. Umbrella tree.
Native to Asian tropics. A fairly aggressive small tree that can
even start out in the branches of other trees. Spectacular leaves
and purple inflorescences during year
(74) OE
Bucida buceras L. COMBRETACEAE. Florida Black Olive. Tree
Barely reaching north to South Florida. As a popular landscape
tree often hybridized with Bucida spinosa (Northr.) Jennings.
(57) PC-N
Bulnesia arborea (Jacq.) Engl. ZYGOPHYLLACEAE. Bulnesia.
Native to Northern South America, related to lignum vitae and an
attractive ornamental tree with soft dark green foliage and yellow
flowers.
(90) CP-N
28
Bumelia salicifolia (L.) Sw. SAPOTACEAE. Mastic. Native to
the Caribbean and into South Florida tropical hardwood
hammocks. Little round fruits persist on branches beneath the
Foliage.
(72) EP
Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. BURSERACEAE. Gumbo Limbo or
Tourist Tree, the latter for its peeling reddish-brown bark (like a
sunburn), tree ranging from Central America to Southern Florida.
(96) EC-N
Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Stapf. MYRTACEAE. Bottlebrush.
Native to Australia. A small landscape tree, attractive for its
weeping foliage and red shaving-brush flowers, but allergenic
to some.
(46) WC-E
Calophyllum inophyllum L. CLUSIACEAE. Alexandrian Laurel.
Tree native to Southeast Asia. Attractive shiny green foliage, but
seeds are poisonous.
(31) BA-N
Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. F. & T. Thoms.
ANNONACEAE. Ylang-Ylang. Tall and fast-growing tree native
to tropical Asia. The flowers are a source of oil used in producing
perfumes, as Chanel Number Five.
(69) PC-W
Carica papaya L. CARICACEAE. Papaya or Pawpaw. Native to
Central America and possibly introduced to South Florida by
native Americans. The trunk of this desirable fruit tree is really not
woody and it should not really be considered as a tree.
(41) EP
Caryota mitis Lour. ARECACEAE. Clumping Fishtail Palm.
Native to Southeast Asia. A related species, Caryota urens L.
29
grows as a single trunk and is occasionally seen in Miami.
Produces sweet sap for beer and sugar in tropics
(12) DM-W
Cassia fistula L. LEGUMINOSAE. Golden Shower. Large tree
native to Asian tropics. The striking long cylindrical pods
produced from pretty yellow flowers are used medicinally in India.
Many other members of this genus grow as ornamental shrubs and
trees in Miami.
(99) CP-S
Casuarina equisetifolia J.R. Forst & G. Forst.
CASUARINACEAE. Australian Pine. Native to tropical Asia and
the Pacific. A very aggressive plant throughout the tropics,
because it spreads rapidly from roots. Drought-tolerant and fix
nitrogen.
(2) EP
Cereus peruvianus (L.) Mill. CACTACEAE. Hedge Cactus,
Peruvian Apple. Native to South America and one of several treelike cacti used in landscaping here, including species of Opuntia
(or Prickly-Pear).
(3) OE-N
Chorisa speciosa St. Hil. MALVACEAE. Pink Silk-Floss Tree.
Native to Southern Brazil and Argentina. With its bizarre spiny
and green trunks, it is a frequent site for offerings by Santa Ria
devotees. Fragrant pink flowers in autumn. Many related species
are near the Conservatory: Adansonia digitata L. (Baobob),
Bombax ceiba L. (Red Silk Cotton Tree), Ceiba pentandra (L.)
Gaertner. (Ceiba).
(76) BA-S
30
Chrysobalanus icaco L. CHRYSOBALANACEAE. Icaco,
Cocoplum. From Central America to South Florida. A shrub or
small tree grown for its fruits, purple or white, which make
acceptable preserves.
(62) EC-E
Chrysophyllum oliviforme L. SAPOTACEAE. Satin Leaf. Central
America to South Florida, where it is common in hardwood
hammocks. The related C. cainito L. produces the
highly edible Caimito or Star Apple. Conspicuous cinnamonbrown fuzz on leaf undersurfaces.
(53) EP
Citharexylon fruticosum L. VERBENACEAE. Fiddlewood.
Native to Caribbean and into South Florida tropical hardwood
hammocks, useful for timber. Leaves look like they are varnished.
(69) VH-E
Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle. RUTACEAE. Lime.
Native to India and Southeast Asia. Is closely related to these
fruits: C. limon (L.) Burm. f.--lemon; C. paradisi Macf.—
grapefruit; C. sinensis (L.) (Osbeck--sweet orange; Fortunella
japonica (Thunb.) Swingle--kumquat. The citrus canker quarantine
resulted in the removal of all campus citrus.
(50) OC
Clusia rosea Jacq. CLUSIACEAE. Balsam Apple, Autograph
Tree. From Central America to South Florida. The leaves last
about 15 months, and may collect bits of written graffiti-hence the name.
(31) DM-W
31
Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L. POLYGONACEAE. Sea Grape.
Coastal vegetation of the New World tropics, to Florida. Fruits can
be used for making preserves. The related C. diversifolia Jacq.
(Pigeon Plum) is less commonly used in landscaping.
(62) CP-E
Cocos nucifera L. ARECACEAE. Native to the Pacific Tropics.
One of mankind's most useful plants. Old plantings here
decimated by lethal yellowing disease, and campus plants
are the resistant dwarf yellow Malayan variety, which have less of
the swaying trunk to which we are accustomed.
(21) GL-E
Conocarpus erectus L. COMBRETACEAE. Buttonwood. Native
to South Florida, Tropical America and West Africa, and
associated with mangrove. The silvery-leaved form (var. sericeus)
is the most popular variety for landscaping.
(72) WC-N
Cordia sebestana L. BORAGINACEAE. Geiger Tree. Small tree
with very attractive orange flowers much of year. From Venezuela
to Florida.
(58) BA-N
Cycas revoluta Thunb. CYCADACEAE. Sago Palm. Native to
Southeast Asia. An important source of starch in the Old World
tropics, as Borneo. Not a palm at all, but a gymnosperm.
(19) OE-S
Dalbergia Sissoo Roxb. Ex DC. FABACEAE. Indian rosewood,
sissoo. Native to India, and an important source of fine timber
there.
(98) OE-W
32
Delonix regia (Bojer) Raf. FABACEAE. Royal Poinciana, Flame
Tree, Flamboyant. Native to Madagascar. With its spreading crown
and spectacular orange-red spring blossoms and long swordshaped pods, very common in Miami.
(82) CP-E
Duranta repens L. VERBENACEAE. Golden Dewdrop. Shrub to
small tree, Florida to Brazil, with purple flowers and golden fruit
most of year.
(27) PC-W
Dypsis lutescens H. Wendl. ARECACEAE. Areca Palm, Yellow
Butterfly Palm. Native to Madagascar, grows quickly into clumps,
one of our most popoular landscape plants.
(17) VH-E
Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ROSACEAE. Loquat.
Native to China. Commonly cultivated in Miami for its tasty fruit.
(42) EB-S
Eucalyptus species. MYRTACEAE. Gum tree, Eucalyptus.
Native to Australasia, several hundred species. A mixed
population of undetermined species grows at the northern edge of
the campus.
(51) P1-N
Euphorbia tirucalli L. EUPHORBIACEAE. Finger tree, Pencil
tree. Native to tropical Africa. Other tree-like euphorbias may be
grown here, as E. lactea Haw. (Candelabra Cactus). In most, the
white latex is toxic and even irritating to the skin.
(3) WC-S
33
Ficus aurea Nutt. MORACEAE. Strangling Fig. Native to the
West Indies and Southern Florida. This often is seen growing in
the crowns of our native sabal palm. There are hundreds of species
in this genus, and many have been cultivated here. The most
common are: F. elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. (Rubber Tree), F.
benghalensis L. (Banyon) spreads by adventitious roots; F.
benjamina L., grown by nurseries near Homestead; F. carica
L.(edible Fig, PC-S), native to the Mediterranean. F. citrifolia L.
(short-leaf fig), native; and F. microcarpa L. f. (VH-W), from
IndoMalaya, potentially invasive.
(55) EP
Filicium decipiens (Wight & Arn.) Thw. SAPINDACEAE.
Native to India, small forest tree with handsome fern-like foliage.
( ) TD-W
Guaiacum sanctum L. ZYGOPHYLLACEAE. Native to South
Florida and drier regions of Central America. Many medicinal
uses and extremely hard wood. Handsome blue-purple flowers and
red seeds. Many planted on N and E campus perimeter.
(90) P1-N
Hamelia patens Jacq. RUBIACEAE. Fire/scarlet bush. Attractive
large shrub/small tree native to South Florida and Central America,
orange flowers all year visited by hummingbirds and butterflies. A
related shrub, wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa Sm.) is also widely
planted
(33) OE-N
Harpullia arborea (Blanco) Radlk. SAPINDACEAE. Harpullia.
Native to Southeast Asia. Persistent pink fruit with black seeds.
(94) VH-N
Hibiscus tiliaceus L. MALVACEAE. Mahoe. Native to the tropics
of the old and New World. Yields fibre for rope, attractive yellow
34
hibiscus flowers most of year. A related species, Thespesia
populnea (L.) Sol.--portia, is naturalized in South Florida.
(61) EP
Ilex cassine L. AQUIFOLIACEAE. Dahoon Holly. Native to SE
US into Cuba, handsome evergreen tree with persistant red fruits in
winter, used as a tea.
(65) ECS-N
Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don. BIGNONIACEAE. Jacaranda.
Native to Northern Argentina. Its timber is used in carpentry; it
loses its fern-like leaves in the winter and blooms spectacularly
(lilac-colored flowers) spring-summer.
(79) AP-E
Koelreuteria formosana L. SAPINDACEAE . Formosa Rain
Tree. Native to subtropical Asia and widely cultivated for
handsome foliage and yellow flowers/salmon-pink fruits in
autumn, many economic uses.
(79) AP-N
Lagerstroemia indica L. LYTHRACEAE. Crape Myrtle. Native
to Southeast Asia. Attractive purple flowers in summer. Related
large street tree and source of hardwood, L. speciosa (L.) Pers.,
Queen Crape Myrtle, grows off-campus.
(34,64) CP-N
Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn.F. COMBRETACEAE.
White Mangrove. Native to New World tropics and into Florida.
(37) BB
Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. OLEACEAE. Privet. Native to
Japan and Korea. A common ornamental shrub/low tree, leathery
dark-green evergreen foliage.
(37) OE-S
35
Lysiloma latisiliquum Benth. FABACEAE. Wild Tamarind.
Native to the Caribbean and South Florida. Attractive shade tree.
Similar to Albizzia lebbeck (L.) Benth., in size and numbers of
pinnae and leaflets, but the latter are some 3 cm long and
asymmetrical. It is also called “old woman's tongue” because of
noise made in spring breezes by the persistent light brown rattling
pods, some 25 cm long. Native to Southeast Asia, its rapid growth
makes it an invasive tree here.
(84) PC-S
Magnolia virginiana L. MAGNOLIACEAE. Sweet Bay. Native to
Eastern US to Southern Florida. Common on tree islands in
Everglades, large transplanted tree in EP. Crushed leaves give bay
leaf fragrance, flowers also with distinctive sweet fragrance.
Related more northern species, M. grandiflora, planted on northern
campus edge.
(49) EP
Mangifera indica L. ANACARDIACEAE. Mango. Native to
Southeast Asia, domesticated in SE Asia. Some people develop
allergies to the foliage and fruit. Still an important crop in Dade
County.
(51) RB-S
Manilkara zapota (L.) Van Royen. SAPOTACEAE. Sapodilla.
Tropical rainforest tree native to Central America. A tasty fruit and
the source of chicle for chewing gum. Related species also
produce edible fruit, notably the egg fruit or canisteel [Pouteria
campechiana (Kunth.) Baehni] and mamay Colorado [Pouteria
sapota (Jacq.) H. Moore & Stearn].
(55) RB-S
36
Melaleuca quinquernervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake. MYRTACEAE.
Melaceuca, cajeput, paperbark tree. Native to Northern Australia
and Southeast Asia. Leaves are the source of medicinal oil used
in ointments as tiger balm; a real pest in South Florida and
extremely allergenic.
(46) OC
Metopium toxiferum (L.) Krug & Urban. ANACARCIACEAE.
Poisonwood. Native in Central America to South Florida.
This plant is extremely irritating to the touch. Learn to recognize
it; it is common in South Florida, particularly in pine rocklands.
Related to poison ivy.
(97) OC
Mimusops elengi L. SAPOTACEAE. Mimusops. Handsome
dark-foliaged tree native to Asian tropics, flowers keep their
fragrance after drying.
(67) WC-N
Morus rubra L. MORACEAE. Red mulberry. Large shrub native
to eastern US, juicy sweet fruits; mulberries are the food for
silkworm cultivation.
(43) RC-S
Musa paradisiaca L. MUSACEAE. Banana. Large tree-like
herb, domesticated in Asian tropics and cultivated throughout the
tropics.
(11) OE
Myrica cerifera L. MYRICACEAE. Wax Myrtle, Candleberry.
Native to Eastern U.S. down to South Florida. It is one of the few
native plants that competes well against Brazilian pepper. Wax on
berries was traditionally used for making candles. Low tree or
large shrub, with narrow leaves aromatic when crushed.
(48) GC-N
37
Myrsine floridana L. MYRSINACEAE. Florida Myrsine. Early
successional tree native to South Florida and the Caribbean,
conspicuous for recurved leaves and persistant fruits on stems.
(71) EP
Pandanus tectorius Sol. ex Parkinson. PANDANACEAE.
Screwpine. Oddly branching tree with sword-like leaves in spiral
arrangement at branch tips, stilt roots. Native to old world tropics,
with a multitude of uses.
(8) EC-S
Parkinsonia aculeata L. FABACEAE. Jerusalem Thorn. Native
to tropical America. Common on campus and in the Keys. Yellow
flowers most of the year.
(80) OC
Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC) Bak. ex K. Heyne. FABACEAE.
Yellow Poinciana, Copperpod. Native to seashores of Southeast
Asia. Deep yellow flowers and copper colored pods most of year.
(82) P1-N
Persea americana Mill. LAURACEAE. Avocado. Native to
Central America. Still an important fruit crop and omnipresent
yard tree in Dade County.
(68) RB-S
Persea borbonia (L.) Sprengel. LAURACEAE. Red bay. Tree of
swamp forests, SE US, common in tropical hardwood hammocks.
Crushed leaves give bay leaf fragrance.
(49) EP
38
Phoenix canariensis Hort. ex Chabaud. ARECACEAE. Canary
Island Date Palm. It Is distinct for its massive trunk and narrow
leaf scars. The source of edible dates is the related P. dactylifera
L., native to North Africa and west Asia. These grow here but do
not produce dates. P. reclinata (clumping) and P. roebelenii
(pygmy) are also planted on campus.
(19) VH-E
Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. MYRTACEAE. Allspice, Pimento.
Native to West Indies and Central America. The dried unripe fruits
are the commercial source of the spice. Small tree with smooth
bark and leaves fragrant when crushed.
(29) GL-S
Pinus elliottii Englemann var. densa Little & Dorman.
PINACEAE. Dade County Pine. Species native to SE US. The
local variety of the slash pine’s wood dries to become extremely
hard and termite-resistant. Old homes were built with it, but the
pine rocklands are almost gone.
(5) EP
Piscidia piscipula (L.) Sarg. FABACEAE. Jamaican Dogwood.
Tree of hardwood hammocks native to South Florida and the
Caribbean. Wood used for timber and roots yield a poison used for
killing fish.
(101) EP
Pithecellobium guadalupense (Rees.) Chapm. FABACEAE.
Black Bead. From Central America to South Florida. A
commercial source of tannin. A closely-related species, P. unguiscati (L.) Benth., cats claw, is armed with spines.
(84) EP
39
Plumeria rubra L. APOCYNACEAE. Frangipani. Native to
tropical America, but now widespread in the tropics. Also
common is P. alba L., with white flowers. Candelabra branches
with fragrant flowers at tips, copious latex.
(54) OC
Podocarpus macrophyllus (Thunb.) D. Don.
PODOCARPACEAE. Japanese Yew. Native to Southern Japan,
small trees of ornamental value, these represent a family of tropical
conifers related to pines and cypress. Other species are planted
here, especially P. gracilior Pilg., Fern Pine, native to Africa and
with much finer foliage.
(59) P1-N
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Merrill. FABACEAE. Pongam. Native to
Southeast Asia and Polynesia. It has many traditional uses: oil
from seeds for medicine and lighting, roots for fish poisoning, bark
as skin medicine. Fragrant lilac flowers in summer.
(101) GC-W
Psidium guajava L. MYRTACEAE. Guava. Native to tropical
America. An important tropical fruit with much potential for
improvement. Tree with distinctive smooth bark.
(34) RB-S
Ptychosperma elegans (R. Br.) Blume. ARECACEAE. Solitaire
Palm. Native to Northern Australia. Often grown in clumps as
seedlings, but all are the same age.
(23) OE-W
Quercus virginiana Mill. FAGACEAE. Live Oak. Native to
Southeastern U.S. A wide-branching and very attractive tree.
Planted along many campus roads.
(65) GC-N
40
Ravenala madagascarensis Sonn. MUSACEAE. Traveler's Palm.
Native to Madagascar, related to the bananas and the bird of
paradise flower.
(11) OE
Rhizophora mangle L. RHIZOPHORACEAE. Red Mangrove.
Native to the coastal mangrove of Tropical America to South
Florida. A source of commercial tannin. Our only mangrove tree
with prop roots.
(35) BB
Ricinus communis L. EUPHORBIACEAE. Castor Bean. Perhaps
native to tropical Africa and now established throughout the
tropics and subtropics. Source of important oil; seeds are
extremely poisonous. Grows rapidly into a small tree to 6 m high.
(41) EP
Roystonea elata F. Harper. ARECACEAE. Royal Palm. Native to
Southern Florida and often confused with the Cuban Royal Palm
(R. Regia O.F. Cook). Tall clear trunks, both are present in
Palmetum.
(22) VH-W
Sabal palmetto (Walt.) Lodd. ARECACEAE. Cabbage Palm.
Native to SE US. Traditionally used for thatching. Common
throughout Florida, and our state tree.
(13) VH-W
Schinus terebinthifolius raddi. ANACARDIACEAE. Florida
Holly, Brazilian Pepper. Native to Southern Brazil and terribly
invasive in South Florida. Red berries conspicuous in autumn;
some may be irritated from touching the foliage.
(95) EP
41
Serenoa repens (Bartr.) Small. ARECACEAE. Saw Palmetto.
Native to Southeastern U.S. The trunks are low and sprawling,
but may extend up to 5 m in height. Its berries were eaten by
Native Americans, also a medicine for treating benign prostatis.
(15) EP
Simarouba glauca DC. SIMAROUBACEAE. Paradise Tree.
Native to Central America, to Southern Florida. An edible oil can
be extracted from seeds; fruits are edible, if not delicious.
(94) EP
Spathodea campanulata Beauv. BIGNONIACEAE. African
Tulip Tree. Native to tropical Africa. Attractive orange flowers
appear periodically during the year.
(89) WC-S
Swietenia mahogani (L.) Jacq. MELIACEAE. West Indian
Mahogany. Native to Caribbean and South Florida, widely planted
on campus roads. Valuable for its wood, but the principal species
for commercial mahogany is S. macrophylla King (WC-N), native
to Central America.
(92) PC-N
Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels. MYRTACEAE. Jambolan.
Handsome dark-foliaged tree with purple fruits in late spring,
native to tropical Asia. Related S. jambos (L.) Alson., Rose Apple
(GC-E), also yields a pleasant-tasting fruit. Several related tree
species (as Eugenia foetida Pers., Spanish Stopper) inhabit local
hammocks.
(29) AP-W
42
Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC. BIGNONIACEAE. Tabebuia, Rosy
Trumpet Tree. Native to Tropical America, often planted in Miami.
Trumpet-shaped flowers much of the year. A related species [T.
argentea (Bur. & K. Schum.) Britt.] with silver foliage, fissured
bark, and spectacular yellow blooms in springtime. Grows by the
107th Avenue entrance.
(75) PC-N
Tamarindus indica L. LEGUMINOSAE. Tamarind. Probably
originated in Africa, an important food plant in the Old World
tropics, makes a pleasant drink, and is familiar to us as the flavor
in sauces. Also used medicinally.
(86) TD-N
Taxodium distichum (L.) L. Rich. TAXODIACEAE. Bald
Cypress. Native to Southeastern US. A conifer, whose needles
fall off in the winter, most common in swamps on the west side of
peninsula
.
(6) DM-W
Terminalia catappa L. COMBRETACEAE. Indian Almond.
Native to seashores of SE Asia. The seed is edible, but tree is
somewhat invasive in Miami. Leaves turn bright red before falling
in January-February.
(57) HI
Thrinax radiata Lodd. ex Schutt. & Schutt. ARECACEAE.
Thatch Palm. Native to Florida and into Central America, in
tropical hardwood hammocks. A related and commonly planted
species is Coccothrinax argentata Bailey, with silvery
undersurface of its fronds.
(16) VH-E
43
Trema micranthum (L.) Blume. ULMACEAE. Florida Trema.
Small early successional tree with rough leaves and persistant
orange berries on stems, native to South Florida and tropical
America.
(43) EP
Veitchia merrillii (Becc.) H.E. Moore. ARECACEAE. Christmas
Palm. Native to the Philippines. It is highly susceptible to lethal
yellowing and is disappearing from South Florida. Related
species, as V. winin, are planted in palmetum.
(23) VH-E
Washingtonia robusta H. Wendle. ARECACEAE. Washingtonia.
Native to Southern California and Mexico, very drought-tolerant.
Persistant leaf bases give trunks a ragged appearance.
(16) EC-S
44
45
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF FAMILIES AND PLANTS IN THE
KEY
Where two names have been published for the same group, the
Preferred one is written first.
ACERACEAE
Acer rubrum*
ANACARDIACEAE
Mangifera indica
Metopium toxiferum*
Schinus terebinthifolius
ANNONACEAE
Annona glabra*
A. muricata
A. reticulata
A. squamosa
Cananga odorata
APOCYNACEAE
Plumeria rubra
Plumeria alba
AQUIFOLIACEAE
Ilex cassine*
ARALIACEAE
Brassaia actinophylla
ARAUCARIACEAE
A. heterophylla
ARECACEAE
46
Acoelorraphe wrightii*
Arecastrum romanzofianum
Caryota mitis
Caryota urens
Coccothrinax argentata*
Cocos nucifera
Dypsis lutescens
Phoenix canariensis
Phoenix dactylifera
Phoenix reclinata
Phoenix roebelinii
Ptychosperma elegans
Roystonea elata*
Roystonea regia
Sabal palmetto*
Serenoa repens*
Thrinax radiata*
Veitchia merrillii
Veitchia winin
Washingtonia robusta
BIGNONIACEAE
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Spathodea campanulata
Tabebuia argentea
Tabebuia rosea
BORAGINACEAE
Cordia sebestena*
BURSERACEAE
Bursera simaruba*
CACTACEAE
Cereus peruvianus
Opuntia sp.
47
CARICACEAE
Carica papaya
CASUARINACEAE
Casuarina equisetifolia
CHRYSOBALANACEAE
Chrysobalanus icaco*
CLUSIACEAE
Calophyllum inophyllum
Clusia rosea*
COMBRETACEAE
Bucida buceras
Bucida spinosa*
Conocarpus erectus*
Laguncularia racemosa*
Terminalia catappa
CYCADACEAE
Cycas revoluta
EUPHORBIACEAE
Bischofia javanica
Euphorbia tirucalli
Euphorbia lactea
Ricinus communis
FABACEAE
Acacia auriculiformis
Acacia farnesiana
Adenanthera pavonina
Albizzia lebbeck
Bauhinia purporea
48
Bauhinia variegata
Cassia fistula
Dalbergia sissoo
Delonix regia
Lysiloma latisiliquum*
Parkinsonia aculeata
Peltophorum pterocarpum
Piscidia piscipula*
Pithecellobium guadalupense*
Pithecellobium unguis-cati*
Pongamia pinnata
Tamarindus indica
FAGACEAE
Quercus virginiana*
LAURACEAE
Persea americanum
Persea borbonia*
LYTHRACEAE
Lagerstroemia indica
Lagerstroemia speciosa
MAGNOLIACEAE
Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia virginiana*
MALVACEAE
Adansonia digitata
Bombax ceiba
Ceiba pentandra
Chorisa speciosa
Hisbiscus tiliaceus*
Thespesia populnea
49
MELIACEAE
Azadirachta indica
Melia azederach
Swietenia macrophylla
Swietenia mahogani*
MORACEAE
Ficus aurea*
Fixus benghalensis
Ficus benjamina
Ficus carica
Ficus citrifolia*
Ficus elastica
Ficus microcarpa
Morus rubra*
MUSACEAE
Musa paradisii
Ravenala madagascarensis
MYRICACEAE
Myrica cerifera
MYRTACEAE
Callistemon citrinus
Eucalyptus sp.
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Pimenta dioica
Psidium guajava
Syzygium jambos
OLEACEAE
Ligustrum japonicum
OXALIDACEAE
50
Averrhoa carambola
PANDANACEAE
Pandanus tectoriusi
PINACEAE
Pinus elliottii var. densa*
PODOCARPACEAE
Podocarpus gracilior
Podocarpus macrophyllus
POLYGONACEAE
Coccoloba diversifolia*
Coccoloba uvifera*
RHIZOPHORACEAE
Rhizophora mangle*
ROSACEAE
Eriobotrya japonica
RUBIACEAE
Hamelia patens*
Psychotria nervosa*
RUTACEAE
Citrus aurantiifolia
Citrus limon
Citrus paradisi
Citrus sinensis
Fortunella japonica
SAPINDACEAE
Blighia sapida
Filicium decipiens
51
Harpullia arborea
Litchi chinensis
Koelreuteria formosana
Sapindus saponaria*
SAPOTACEAE
Bumelia salicifolia*
Chrysophyllum cainito
Chrysophyllum oliviforme*
Lucuma nervosa
Manilkara zapota
Mimusops elengii
Pouteria campechiana
Pouteria sapota
SIMAROUBACEAE
Simarouba glauca*
TAXODIACEAE
Taxodium distichum*
ULMACEAE
Trema micranthum*
VERBENACEAE
Avicennia germinans*
Citharexylon fruticosum*
Duranta repens*
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE
Bulnesia arborea
Guaiacum sanctum*
52
53
SOME OF THE AUTHORS WHO DESCRIBED PLANTS IN
THE KEY
Bartr. William Bartram, 1739-1823. American naturalist who
collected and studied plants in Eastern United States.
Becc. Odoardo Beccari, 1843-1920. Italian botanist who spent
much of his professional life studying the palms of
Southeast Asia.
Benth. George Bentham, 1800-1884. English botanist who
worked on various tropical floras.
Blume Karl Ludwig Blume, 1796-1862. Dutch botanist and
former Director of the Botanical Gardens at Bogor, in Java. He
described hundreds of new species from that region.
DC Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, 1778-1841. The head of a
great Swiss botanical family, important for his work on
plant classification.
D. Don David Don, 1799-1841. Scottish botanist who worked in
the tropics.
Engelm. George Engelmann, 1809-1884. American botanist and
explorer who published the names of dozens of American plants.
Gaertn. Joseph Gaertner, 1732-1791. German botanist who made
fundamental discoveries about the seeds of plants, and also
described new species.
H.B.K. Friedrich Alexander von Humboldt, 1769-1859; Aimé
Bonpland, 1773-1858; Carl Sigismund Kunth 1788-1850.
Humboldt was one of the greatest scientists of the 19th
century; Humboldt and Bonpland together made one of the
greatest exploratory voyages in the history of science.
The three scientists collaborated to scientifically describe the
collections of this great South American expedition.
H.E. Moore American botanist, 1517-1981, expert on Palms,
H. Wendl. Herman Wendland, 1823-1903. A German student of
the palms.
Jacq. Nicolas Joseph Jacquin, 1727-1817. Austrian botanist who
explored the new world and described many new plants.
54
L. Carolus Linnaeus (Carl von Linné), 1707-1778. The "father
of botany", or at least the father of classification. Most of the
plants in this list were either named by him, or re-named with his
standard procedure from plants previously studied.
Nutt. Thomas Nuttall, 1786-1859. American naturalist who
traveled widely and described plants and animals new to science.
Raf. Constantino Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1784-1842.
Professor of Natural History, Translyvania University, Lexington,
Kentucky. An influential early American botanist who published
the names of hundreds of new species.
Roxb. William Roxburgh, 1759-1815. Superintendent of the
Botanical Gardens in Calcutta, he described hundreds of new
species in the Indian flora.
Sarg. Charles Sprague Sargent, 1841-1927. Professor of Botany
at Harvard and an expert on American forest trees.
Small John Kunkel Small, 1869-1938. Of the New York Botanical
Garden, he did much early collecting and studying in Florida.
Sonn. Pierre Sonnerat, 1749-1814. French botanist.
Thunb. Carl Peter Thunberg, 1743-1822. Swedish botanist and
author of early descriptions of plants from Japan and South Africa.