Arboretum Images 6c

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Palomar College Arboretum Images 6c: Trees #3
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Willow Family (Salicaceae)

Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and new Palomar College Science Bldg.

Soapberry Family (Sapindaceae)

A soapberry seed necklace (Sapindus saponaria) from the Hawaiian Islands. This widespread species of tree occurs in the southwestern United States, Mexico and South America, west across the Pacific Basin on a number of islands to New Caledonia. On the island of Hawaii it grows in mesic forests on Hualalai, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. It also occurs in Africa where the seeds are used in the board game called mancala. On the Palomar College campus it grows near the Child Development Center, and soon will be planted in the Arboretum. The foaming action of soapberries is caused by saponins present in the leathery fruit wall (pericarp). Native soap lilies (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) in the Arboretum contain similar saponins in their bulbs that foam in water.

  See Article About Soap Lilies & Soapberries  

Flacourtia Family (Flacourtiaceae)

Guatemalan holly (Olmediella betscleriana). The distinctive fruits are common along the Arboretum trails above Palm Terrace. They are also common along trails in Guatemala near the ancient Maya city of Tikal. Mature fruits have a hard outer pericarp and are about 4 cm in diameter.

Chocolate Family (Sterculiaceae)

The Australian bottle tree Brachychiton rupestris. The right photograph was taken on Horn & Hoof Mesa at the San Diego Zoo.

  Stinkhorn Fungus At Base Of Palomar's Bottle Tree In Spring 2006   

Pink flame tree (Brachychiton discolor) native to eastern Australia. The large fruit is technically a follicle, a single seed-bearing carpel that splits open along one seam.

  Identification of Fruit Types: The Follicle  

Pink flame tree (Brachychiton discolor) native to eastern Australia.

Euphorbia Family (Euphorbiaceae)

Left: Male, stamen-bearing flowers of the tung oil tree (Aleurites fordii), a deciduous shade tree native to China. Right: Female flower of the tung oil tree showing a seed-bearing pistil (gynoecium). Tung oil comes from the large, oily seeds. For centuries tung oil has been used for paints and waterproof coatings, and as a component of caulk and mortar. It is an ingredient in "India ink" and is commonly used for a lustrous finish on wood. In fact, the "teak oil" sold for fine furniture is usually refined tung oil. Some woodworkers consider tung oil to be one of the best natural finishes for wood. The closely-related candlenut tree (A. molucanna) is the state tree of Hawaii. The polished seeds are known as kukui nuts and are commonly strung into beautiful necklaces and bracelets.

  Read About Tung Oil & Kakui Nuts  

Toog (Bischofia javanica), an Asian tree with trifoliate leaves.

Queensland poplar (Homalanthus populifolius)

  Read About The Diverse Euphorbia Family  

Citrus Family (Rutaceae)

Cape chestnut (Calodendron capense) native to South Africa.

  More Images of the Cape Chestnut