Lysiloma

Lysiloma

Lysiloma candidum ( Palo Blanco )
A small tree that is native to the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 10 feet; 2 year - 13 feet; 3 years - 17 feet; 6 years - 20 feet; 8 years - 25 feet; 9 years - 30 x 15 feet.
The foliage is deep grayish-green.
The puffball flowers are white.
The bark is whitish-gray.
* recommended link
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/287878-Lysiloma-candidum

Lysiloma divaricatum
A medium-sized tree, reaching up to 60 x 50 feet. Some records include: 3 years - 5 feet; 5 year - 7.5 feet; 9 years - 13 feet; 13 years - 15 feet. It is native to mountains from southern Baja to southern Sonora to southern Tamaulipas; south to far northern Guatemala.
The bipinnate foliage is bright green.
The white flowers are followed by bright brown pods.
Hardy zones 9 to 10 in summer monsoon, mountainous subtropical climates.
* recommended link
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/287647-Lysiloma-divaricatum

Lysiloma latisiliqum ( Bahama Lysiloma )
A spreading large evergreen tree native to southern Florida, the Bahamas & the Caribbean. It is an excellent shade tree for tropical regions. Some records include: largest on record - 70 x 72 feet with a trunk diameter of 4.6 feet.
The bipinnate leaves, up to 8 inches in length, are composed of 2 to 6 pairs of pinnae, each with many oblong leaflets, up to 0.6 x 0.2 inches.
The small, globular white flowers are borne in clusters.
They are followed by pointed reddish-brown pods, up to 7 inches in length. The seed pods contain oval dark brown seeds, up to 0.5 inches.
The branches do not have spines.
The bark is whitish and scaly.
Hardy zones 10 to 12. Tolerant of drought, salt air, salty soil, storms and wind.
Young trees should be pruned to a central leader and feathered ( shortening and spacing side branches ) to prevent later wind damage.

* photo taken on Jan 11 2011 @ Deerfield Beach Arboretum, Florida

* historic archive photo

* video found on Youtube


Lysiloma microphylla
A small tree native to mountains of central Mexico. Some records include: largest on record - 33 x 41 feet with a trunk diameter of 1.7 feet.
The bipinnate foliage is mid-green.
The puffball flowers are creamy-white.

Lysiloma sabicu ( Sabicu )
Also called Cuban Tamerind. A fast growing, semi-weeping, medium-size to large tree. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 4 feet; 15 years - 30 x 25 feet; largest on record - 50 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 foot. It makes a great tree for streetscapes and the seashore. It is native to the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, Cuba & Hispanola.
The bipinnate leaves, up to 8 inches in length, are composed of broadly-ovate leaflets, up to 0.8 x 0.5 inches in size. The foliage is reddish at first, turning to mid-green.
The greenish-white to white, puffball flowers are up to 0.6 inches wide.
They are followed by pods up to 5 x 1.5 inches in size.
The peeling bark is grayish-brown.
Hardy zones 10 to 12, it is very tolerant of drought and salt.

* photo taken on Jan 11 2011 @ Deerfield Beach Arboretum, Florida




Lysiloma watsonii
Also called Lysiloma thornberi. A fast growing, rounded, semi-evergreen, multi-trunked, small tree that is native from southeast Arizona into the mountains of Sonora, Mexico. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 4 feet; 3 years - 6 feet; largest on record - 50 x 75 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet.
The bipinnate leaves, up to 5 inches in length, are composed of tiny oblong leaflets, up to 0.2 inches in length. The foliage is bright green, turning to golden-yellow prior to falling briefly during mid-spring.
The creamy-white puffball flowers, up to 0.5 inches wide, are borne on terminal clusters during late spring.
They are followed by pods up to 6 inches in length.
Hardy zones 9 to 10 ( tolerating as low as 18 F ) in full sun on just about any deep, well drained soil. It is not bothered by insect pests or disease.