Heteropanax dhruvii new in 2010:

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bit...

The Evolution of Araliaceae:

https://researcharchive.lincol...

P. 369. Heteropanax, the so-called Seeds are probably pyrenes.

https://archive.org/stream/for...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

The species of Myodocarpus and Delarbrea are monocaulous or slightly branched trees

A number of
features are usually pointed out as shared by both Myodocarpus and Delarbrea, such
as apotracheal axial parenchyma in secondary xylem (Oskolski 1994, Oskolski et al.
1997), similar inflorescence structure, broadened petiole bases, articulate flower stalks,
five stamens and a gynoecium of two carpels, as well as “large secretory oil ducts” in
the fleshy part of the fruit (Lowry 1986) or “distinctive oil vesicles in the endocarp”
(Lowry et al. 2004b).

http://istina.msu.ru/media/pub...

The "monocaulis" part fits (if it means one stem), but the "broadened petiole bases" rules this group out.

Janet, I got opposite-decussate from some botanical references, in print there is the book Plant Form, An Illustrated Guide to Flowering Plant Morphology, by Adrian D. Bell. In the chapter about Phyllotaxis it says:

"Opposite: ...........When successive pairs are oriented at 90 degrees to each other, four rows of leaves will be visible from above and the phyllotaxis is opposite decussate......"

From the University of Illinois web pages on botanical terminology:

"What are opposite leaves?
...................Decussate: Leaves arranged in opposite pairs, rotating 90° at every node."

http://woodyplantstutorial.nre...

Also from University of the West Indies series on phyllotaxy, a picture entitled:
"Opposite decussate phyllotaxy in Sedum"
http://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesci...

And this one from UCLA Botanical Garden: "Opposite decussate phyllotaxis is displayed in the shoot of Dicoria canescens (Family Asteraceae),"
http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/ht...

Lots more on Google:
https://www.google.ca/search?q...

I was hoping a search on that might yield something but I ran out of time last night (couldn't stay up as late as you did Janet!) .

Key to genera in Araliaceae:

http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/c...

Sue, regardless of how the leaves should be described, I think we need to reassess what we first read and think what it means.

Leaves nearly always alternate (opposite only in Cheirodendron);

http://www.anbg.gov.au/angio/a...

That word "nearly" doesn't specifically relate to the fact that Cheirodendron only has opposite leaves. I think it's saying that in the genera Cheirodendron you will only see opposite leaves, which doesn't mean in other genera there won't be opposite leaves.

Agreed, I found a few yesterday that had opposite leaves, and Heteropanax fragrans has opposite leaves according to something I read just now. I was just confirming the terminology because it can narrow down the options when searching.

This is one of the most interesting IDs ever.

I had followed AlyssaBlue's lead when she suggested a tower. Sounded like a good suggestion as the images appear to be of something very tall.

AlyssaBlue said:Almost like a camera or cell tower disguised as a tree.

But with the additional information that the plant is only 20 feet tall guess it can't be a tower.

CLAYBYRD said:...grow straight up 20 feet as one branch with no other limbs.

I found a photo online which shows similarly precise branching (not my image).
Clicking on the image leads to this PDF:
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac...

In the PDF the common name for the plant is Payam; botanical name Evodia fraxinifolia Hook.

Edited to correct my error in the plant name.

Due to the height, I do not think it's a cell tower any more, but it could still be a surveillance camera. It looks like dried dirt/concrete at the base to me, reminds me of putting in a fence post. Hey- if someone finds an ID, I will be truly impressed because this is a tough one.

Greene, when I looked at the PDF that image is labeled Payam, Evodia fraxinifolia The leaflets look too long to me. I found a plant that looked similar but the leaflets were too long on that as well. I forget what it was now other than that it was in the Bignoniaceae. There's another in the Bignoniaceae that was close too but again the leaflets didn't look right.

I just looked through the Atlas of Florida Plants and there was nothing listed in the Araliaceae or the Bignoniaceae that fit. Of course that doesn't necessarily mean that the tree isn't one of those, they may just not be aware of it. They do have an identification service at the herbarium though, and this page has email contact info:

http://biology.usf.edu/cmmb/re...

There are multiple images online from Asiatic countries that show Heteropanax Fragrans to be very similar. I think you are definitely on the right track. Similar leaves, unarmed tree (unless cropped and forced to branch), same precise branching. There seem to be multiple types and leaf shapes all lumped under this name, however. These images for instance:


Edit: the images aren't loading properly for some reason. Here's the link: https://m.alibaba.com/product/...

I would be unable to resist a small dig around where roots should be. The photo of the base of the "tree" does look unusual enough and I would wonder if it is concealing something besides actual roots. If roots are there, that should resolve that question.

Maybe.

If it were a surveillance camera, what around there could it be "surveiling"?

I don't know- people, animals or a crop. I just re-read beginning posts, and I don't think claybyrd should go there again if it's not on his/her property.

@sooby/Sue for catching my error. I have edited the post so it now has the correct name for that image.

What about Tetradium?

Good, thanks for the extra pics. Is that a bloom stalk in the 3rd pic?

Now we have some size perspective. I see Virginia creeper at the base. The growth tip gives me the impression that it grows very quickly. I do see some lateral growth that is not just a leaf.

Yes, that is the growth at the top of one of the small plants.

China Doll (Radermachera sinica)

the leaves remind me of this, not sure that it IS this, but maybe it will brainstorm something useful?

Well, let me say that we had over 3in. of rain yesterday so everything's growing at warp speed today.

I think up in Palmetto, they may have even had more rain than we did, too.

I think those growing tips all look like leaves, curled in like folded fingers, though.

How about this one Radermachera hainanensis ?