Help identifying a volunteer
 

Hi. I found a volunteer tree or shrub growing in my back yard and hope
someone can help identify it for me.

The picture is posted on alt.binaries.pictures.gardens with the subject of
"ID volunteer tree." The first photo is a detail of the leaf, the second is
the whole plant in a 3-inch pot. It is doing quite well on my sunny window
sill.

I live in California, zone 9b, Sunset zone 15.

The leaves are (I think this is right) pinnate, arranged opposite, elongated
lance-shaped and toothed. Stem is woody. Closest matches I could come up
with are sumac, jacaranda, or mountain ash, although none seem exactly
right.

Any ideas? TIA.

- Dewolla Stepon

Help identifying a volunteer
 

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 20:34:20 GMT, "Dewolla"
wrote:

Hi. I found a volunteer tree or shrub growing in my back yard and hope
someone can help identify it for me.

Schinus molle. aka California pepper plant, pink pepper

The picture is posted on alt.binaries.pictures.gardens with the subject of
"ID volunteer tree." The first photo is a detail of the leaf, the second is
the whole plant in a 3-inch pot. It is doing quite well on my sunny window
sill.

I have a couple of these that I've grown from seed that I "aquired"
while visiting Bakersfield in July.

I live in California, zone 9b, Sunset zone 15.

I live in Canada. Vancouver area of B.C. exactly.
Zone 8b. (yes it's true).

Even so I'm afraid these will remain house plants for me :)
As far as being edible I've seen both yes and no, anybody?

Steve

Help identifying a volunteer
 

"Scorp" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 20:34:20 GMT, "Dewolla"
wrote:

Hi. I found a volunteer tree or shrub growing in my back yard and hope
someone can help identify it for me.

Schinus molle. aka California pepper plant, pink pepper

I have a couple of these that I've grown from seed that I "aquired"
while visiting Bakersfield in July.

Thanks, Steve!

I didn't know if you were right or not, but after checking out some websites
I learned that the entire plant is fragrant. I crushed one of the dropped
leaves and it smelled of pepper!

Does it do well in a container? Does it produce fruit?

Thanks again,

- Dewolla Stepon

Help identifying a volunteer
 

On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 16:44:33 GMT, "Dewolla"
wrote:

Thanks, Steve!

No prob.

I didn't know if you were right or not, but after checking out some websites
I learned that the entire plant is fragrant. I crushed one of the dropped
leaves and it smelled of pepper!

Haven't tried that, but I will :)

Does it do well in a container? Does it produce fruit?

Was a very fast grower under my MH HID light. I also have 1 on my
window sill and it's doing good, not growing very fast but it is
middle of winter!
AFAIK it will produce peppers. Just not sure of their edibitility.
I'm going to plant a couple outside just because I have 4 going. But
doubt they will last any winter here, without help anyways.

Steve

Help identifying a volunteer
 

AFAIK it will produce peppers. Just not sure of their
edibitility.
I'm going to plant a couple outside just because I have 4
going. But
doubt they will last any winter here, without help anyways.

"Botanica" says the berries have a "peppery taste and have been
used like pepper, but are somewhat toxic" -- whatever *that*
means. I guess "somewhat toxic" means they'll make you sick but
won't kill you. ;-)

Trees in the genus Schinus have a propensity to becoming
invasive. We're spending millions in a fruitless effort to
eradicate (or even control) S. terebinthifolius in the
Everglades.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Apples and
Oranges: A Demonstration -- Welcome to Hooterville! Population:
2000. Elevation: 3000. Established: 1850. TOTAL = 6850 -- Bob
Lilienfield