Black Tupelo? (Nyssa sylvatica)

3/7/2012

I've had this post developing for awhile. Ive been trying to ID this tree through the use of the resources off the internet but I have not had the luck of actually solving the puzzle.

so today, 3/20/2012, I went to the library to finally figure this out. 

I found a field guide entitled: The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees Eastern Region

Possibilities:

Black Tupelo (620)

Nyssa sylvatica

Leaves and berries match description and pictures. 

http://www.eattheweeds.com/nyssus-tart-botanical-tangles-2/

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9948610

American Nightshade (Solanum americanum)

2/27/2012
So... I happened upon something incredibly interesting... Remember that red berried plant a few posts back, that I could not identify? http://procezzed.blogspot.com/2012/02/red-berries.html .. Yeah THAT. well... I found another one. However... this one had BLACK berries. same leaves, same size, same EVERYTHING... except for berries. How CURIOUS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_americanum
I think I've finally solved it. After finally searching based on the FLOWER and not the berry, I found a blog that featured a post on the 'American Nightshade'. Scientifically 'Solanum americanum'. Now I just have to figure out the details of the red berried plant I found before. It MUST be related because the two are so similar.

Coralberry (Arsidia crenata)

2/27/2012

forraging and exploring, once again!

first off, found a small shrub that produced bright red berries

should be pretty straightforward

characteristics:

leaves:

8 cm long 

2.5 cm wide

branched veins

leanceolate shape

pointed

sinuate/ wavy edge

berries:

red

.7 cm diameter

reddish stem

while trying to identify a wildflower, I ran upon this listed under "CAUTION INVASIVE SPECIES" 

well, at least now I know what it is!

http://www.floridata.com/ref/a/ardis_c.cfm

it's called coralberry, or christmas berry. (Arsidia crenata)

"Coral ardisia is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (a non-governmental organization) as a category I species, defined as an introduced species that is invading and disrupting native plant communities in Florida. In many areas, coral ardisia has become a significant pest. " - floridata

Fascinating. However I find no disruption present so, I am not going to interfere with this plant's life.

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9202358

Red berries

More Berries!

So I found a small plant with red berries

I'm going to attempt to identify it

berry:
thin red exocarp
minimal red mesocarp
off white/ yellowish seeds

Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum camphora)

BERRIES!!

However I'm at a complete loss as to identify this tree

I have searched the internet for possible 4 hours... felt close with black gum and other relations of the gum but... they just weren't the same..

02/22/2012 

went to my neighborhood library and found some reference books. 

The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees Eastern Region

Is the one I found and I also found it to be exceptionally helpful.

possibilities: 

Camphor-tree - 448

Osage-orange - 429

AND SUCCESS!

I flip to page 448 and find exactly what I am looking for. 

Cinnamomum camphora

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

some interesting things about this tree:

~ Camphor is a white crystalline substance, obtained from the tree Cinnamomum camphora. Camphor has been used for many centuries as a culinary spice, a component of incense, and as a medicine. Camphor is also an insect repellent and a flea-killing substance.

^^ bark

^^ berry dissected 

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9104044