"David E. Ross" wrote in message ...
On 2/3/2014 10:19 AM, Guv Bob wrote:
"Guv Bob" wrote in message m...

"David E. Ross" wrote in message ...
On 1/17/2014 10:01 AM, Guv Bob wrote:
Anyone have an idea of what these trees are? I'm pretty sure they are Ficus.

Location coastal San Diego County, California. The best match I can find from all the ID websites is this one...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_trigonata

Leaves & trunks from 15-ft and 30-ft trees:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/19/w5ac.jpg

I can't reach the leaves on the taller trees & none on the ground....

6-ft tall tree:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...0/855/xvyn.jpg

Leaf from 6-ft tree, front:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/59/lcol.jpg

Leaf from 6-ft tree, back:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...0/834/yg15.jpg




Does the tree have a milky white or pale yellow sap? If not, it is not
a Ficus.

The leaves almost seem to be compound leaflets rather than simple leaves
along a stem. This is why I question the Ficus identification since
Ficus species have simple leaves.

If these trees are planted in a park or along a street, you might
inquire at the public works department of the local city or San Diego
County. They generally maintain an inventory of trees in public spaces.
A garden club or good nursery might also identify them.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

Another leaf from the mystery tree. This one has alternating leaves.
http://imageshack.com/a/img607/6637/mwj6.jpg

Leaf photo posted earlier with opposing leaves.
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/59/lcol.jpg

At 2nd look, maybe that first leaf is opposing also?



While the leaves in the second photo join the stem close together, they
are indeed alternating.

I have seen a number of different trees with leaves like these. Have
you tried city or county offices or a local garden club?

I had the street tree in front of my house identified by taking a small
branch with leaves to the botony department at the nearest community
college. Also, every county in California (except possibly San
Francisco) has a cooperative extension service in conjunction with the
University of California at Davis. That service generally includes a
master gardener program whose volunteers might be able to identify your
trees.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

David, I stumbled upon the same type tree growing near a nursery and they told me it's a carrotwood (or carrot wood) tree. Evidently if you prune it before it gets too tall, it makes a decent shade tree. Unfortunately for me, mine are 20-30 feet and headed toward power lines. Few limbs below 15 feet, so it will probably end up as firewood.

From wikipedia...

Cupaniopsis anacardioides, with common names tuckeroo, carrotwood, beach tamarind and green-leaved tamarind, is a species of flowering tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae, that is native to eastern and northern Australia. The usual habitat is littoral rainforest on sand or near estuaries. The range of natural distribution is from Seven Mile Beach, New South Wales (34.8° S) to Queensland, northern Australia and New Guinea. C. anacardioides is an invasive species in some parts of the United States, primarily Florida and Hawaii.