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Sideroxylon foetidissimum

Sideroxylon foetidissimum Jacq.

False Mastic, Mastic Tree

Sapotaceae (Sapodilla Family)

Synonym(s): Mastichodendron foetidissimum

USDA Symbol: SIFO

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (N)

The false mastic grows to heights of 50 ft., or more, with a large, straight trunk ranging 3-4 ft. in diameter at maturity. Stout branches with reddish-brown branchlets support an irregular crown. Shiny oblong leaves have wavy margins. The upper surface is bright green; the lower is yellow-green. Leaves remain green for more than a year and are clustered near the ends of the branchlets.

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 80 feet tall, often shorter.
Fruit: Yellow to orange.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: FL
Native Distribution: FL coast from Lee Co., south
Native Habitat: Coastal shell mounds

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Coastal sands.
Conditions Comments: An excellent shade tree but very slow-growing.

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sideroxylon foetidissimum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sideroxylon foetidissimum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sideroxylon foetidissimum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-15
Research By: TWC Staff

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