This tree was about 30' tall and looked like it was pretty close to being full grown. It had a very open shape similar to a japanese maple or an acacia - very open and airy. I noticed the branches seemed to sprout like a pine, on all 4 sides. The foliage was really superb, it had tiny triangular elm like leaves that resembled the new growth from a Mexican Buckeye but very dark green with a normal sheen, and no shine or waxy look. I found myself stairing up from the trunk and the leaves made a geometric pattern that was similar to the tiger eyes sumac. The fruit looked like tiny dull green cherries, sort of like a Bradford Pear. I have also seen this tree in the Arbor Hills nature preserve in Plano. Where I mistook the saplings for mexican buckeye. I'll try to post some pics tomorrow but anyone have a guess? Its a really handsome tree and showed no signs at all of drought stress. I'm guessing its some kind of sumac. It looked very similar to a Chinese Pistache but with smaller leaves and a taller, more narrow, and open form.
Seen in Lake Dallas, Plano, and Lewisville Texas growing wild.
Need a Texas tree ID
Sounds like it could be Western Soapberry. Though, the leaves don't remind me of elm, because they are thinner and longer than elm, so I could be wrong.
They grow wild around here in many of the "forested" areas or creek areas. The compound leaf pattern is similar to Chinese Pistache and when they are young they are quite open. The berries are green before ripening.
http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/bio406d/images/pics/sap/sapindus_saponaria.htm
http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/sasad.htm http://www.noble.org/WebApps/PlantImageGallery/Plant.aspx?PlantID=126&PlantTypeID=3
Very good guess Stacey, I couln't think of what it might be.
Frostweed, I think it might be a prairie fire Sumac, but its so much taller then any i've ever seen and the fruit looks real similar to a Bradford pear. Little green thingies..I'll post some pics tonight.
Sweezel, thats very close, but the leaves look more triangular on this guy and much darker. The leaf structure forms a kind of geometric pattern, much like the tiger eyes sumac. I bet its some kind of sumac. Probably prairie fire.
I look forward to seeing your pictureToby.
Leaf
Crown. I think this is a Soapberry. The berries are turning orange.
Toby, the leaves on your tree and the ones on Stacey's link don't look the same.
Yours are serrated and the ones in her links are not, also your leaf ends in three leaflets and the others don't. How many leaflets are your tree's leaf?
I still don't know what your tree is, but since you have seen it, you might be a better judge.
What do you think Stacey?
It's Chinaberry. A non-native tree that has invasively spread and has been confused with Soapberry. On my drive home today, I made the connection of the serrated leaves of elm and this and thought maybe it was what you found. I was just getting on Dave's to mention it. :)
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/51724/index.html
http://www.bullcreek.net/chinaberry.html
BTW, one of the first threads I ever started was in "identification" looking identify of one of these. paulwhwest & htop identified it for me. :)
Very good Stacey, I thought it might be Chinaberry, but I wasn't sure.
Well, there you have it Toby.
Whoah, thats not good, I noticed 3 saplings in fields near this tree and suckers at the base of it. I took a look at the invasive species website. How is it they dont list the Mimosa? That tree is easily more invasive then the Chinaberry in DFW.
Oh just go to the trees and shrubs forum--they regularly do mimosa bashing...lol
Ya'll probably know about this site but maybe some of the 'lurkers' don't....
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/indexcommon.htm
Debbie
Toby, here is a list of Texas invasives,
http://www.texasinvasives.org/Invasives_Database/Results/Inv_Results.asp
You will find links to a lot of useful lists in this link:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/528122/
Scroll to the bottom for thr information.
Josephine.