Friday, February 17, 2012

Plant: Carrotwood tree and its parts......

This medium-sized carrotwood tree (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) with dense canopy of  rich green, glossy, tough, pinnate leaves, belonging to Sapindaceae family is native of Australia, but is quite commonly found in South California. 
Many of them grace our apartment garden and are obligate part of street landscaping. Birds perch in the shady branches and devour the fruits. Despite it's immense ornamental value, this plant is a potential invasive species.
The dense canopy........

Tree trunk......looks muscular.......

Inflorescence........


Raw fruit clusters...

Ripe in spring...

Split, exposing the red seeds, in summer...



Ground littered with the seeds and shells........


The pretty shells......

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