Gumbo Limbo Tree

5/6/2013 Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Ft. Lauderdale

Gumbo Limbo Tree / The Tourist Tree = Bursera simaruba

Torchwood Family

Native to Southern Florida, West Indies, Mexico, 

Northern South America

とても大きくなる木なのに育つのが早いので有名。
２ｍから３ｍ位の高さに育つのにほんの18ヶ月しか
かからないのだとか。
気の早いせっかちな木で、この日に何本もの木を
見たのですが、こっちの木は赤い若い葉が出たばかり、
と思ったらもう花がついている。
クリーム色の花盛りの木があると思えば
葉と、花と、実が一緒に出ている木もある。
大体、花が終わらないうちに実が出るって・・・
どういう構造になっているのだろう。
不思議な木だけれど、満開の花はきれいでした。

*Big tree up to 60 feet, and is considered one of the

most wind-tolerant trees, so we don't have to worry about

in Hurricane Season in South Florida!

People go to vacation as a tourist, got overdone

in the Sun, turned red and peeled.

This tree, it's bright red bark peels in thin layers. 

That's why it got the name "Tourist Tree".

12/5/2009  Hugh Taylor State Park, Ft. Lauderdale

Gumbo Limbo is one of the fastest growing 
native trees.   The growth is so rapid that
a 6' to 8' tree can be produced from seed
in 18 months.

5/6/2013 Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Ft.Lauderdale
New leaves and flowers at the same time

It begins refoliating while old leave are falling, 
and inflorescence is emerging.
The flowers emerge before or with 
the first leaves in late winter~late spring.
Flowers and Fruits usually appear together.

5/6/2013 Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Ft.Lauderdale

New leaves with flowers

5/6/2013 Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Ft.Lauderdale
Leaves are a little bigger and with fruits

5/6/2013 Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Ft.Lauderdale
Flowers in full bloom