I have no clue where to start on this one. Growing in zone 8/9 north central Florida in October. Pay no attention to the plant growing at it's base -- it is a Callicarpa americana.

bump

This might be a wild guess, but I think it might be a Black Tupelo, click on the pictures on the left of the screen.
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plan...

It could possibly be it Josephine. I'll check it out further. And I think next time we're out there I will take some photos of the underneath of the leaves & more photos in general.

I'm thinking this is not a Black Tupelo. It is not growing in any moist area at all; in fact it's on a sand hill sandwiched between Live Oak & Eastern Red Cedar & Turkey Oaks. Here are some more photos --- underside of leaves & branches coming off the trunk.

Well, at least I gave it a shot.

You did that Josephine! And I can't say for positive that you weren't right either. I found 2 sites which said it didn't matter what soil or moisture sooooo........ It looks like the leaves want to turn so I'll have to keep watching & taking photos & pursuing this thing. I think the problem is too that there's really nothing distinctive about it. AND the black tupelo has flowers only on the female -- I saw no signs of any flowers or fruit ever having been on this which might mean it's a male or not a tupelo at all.

Everything I've looked at concerning this plant leads me to believe it's Nyssa sylvatica as well.

One very specific trait of these trees is the main trunk formation. Does the main trunk go straight to the top with no "Y" or complex branch offshoots? (Is each main branch attached to the center trunk?)

Have you observed any cavities in this tree?

Are there any other specimens in the vicinity?

Are the leaves thick-ish and somewhat leathery; similar to, but a bit thinner than a magnolia leaf?

Do you get the feeling that this tree was planted there, or that it was started from natural occurrences?

Are there any shoots showing around the base of the trunk?

Chelle, good questions. I know some of the answers & will have to check on the others & report back.

1) From memory I think the main goes to the top with no Y & no complex branch offshoots. But I will need to check to make positive I'm correct in that statement.

2) NO, there are no cavities in the tree.

3) I have not observed any other specimens in the vicinity --- however I'm in the process of going one by one through all the trees on the property to ID & log exactly what is there. And I can say with 99% accuracy there are no others like this on the property nor within viewing range of it.

4) That's the sticking point --- the leaves do not seem to be thick-ish nor leathery & certainly not near as thick or leathery as magnolia.

5) I absolutely get the feeling the tree was a natural occurrence & was not planted there.

6) No, there are no shoots growing around the base of the trunk.

Wow. With the answers to those questions I'm joining you in thinking it's not Black Tupelo. This mystery gets deeper and deeper with each question answered.

I know. It's certainly intriguing though. One of those things that gets me bound & determined to get to the root of.

I've had several long-standing mysteries solved here recently; it could become addictive!

How about a Persimmon? Check it out & see what you think. I want a couple of people to verify this please.

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

Ann...I didn't go to the link, but my FIRST thought seeing the leaves wae wild persimmon. We have them all over

I had visited a site that was comparing the bark of persimmons and tupelos; from what I see on your link that just might be it. It says you need two (at least) for fruit, and since you only see one tree that's probably why you don't see any signs of them.

Well, don't I understand correctly that only the females have fruit? Or do i misunderstand that? Also Wiki said they have to be 6 yrs. old before fruiting. This seems (in my bones) a youngish tree.
Ginger, thanks. You should have piped up. Can you compare my photos to your trees? Those ugly spots on the leaves struck me as wrong for Tupelo. Just a gut feeling -- no basis in fact that I know of.

BTW, this is how I came up with Persimmon. Duuuuuhhhhhh, why didn't I think of this sooner?

http://www.arborday.org/trees/...

Cool tool.

Just saw this today and yes my leaves get the spots on them.

Ann, I just saw this. I have a wild male persimmon in my yard, I think.
I'll let you know more tomorrow.

It's one of those trees that's been here for years, just came up in a spot where I needed a tree and I let it grow. It's at a corner that I don't pay much attention to and since the tree just stands there being a tree and shading my hostas from the afternoon sun, I just let it do its thing. I'll take photos tomorrow. I've just always thought it was a male persimmon and never really looked closely.

Looks to be the same tree, though.

Thanks Sharon. I would appreciate that.