Here's a tree called the Tepeguaje - hey I'm not making this up! Apparently is is very rare and I only know of one or two stands of the 25-foot trees on the Island. Identification was provided by Scarlet Colley and the Native Plant Project (NPP) up the Valley.
Few know how to pronounce it, some calling it "Huisache Fever" even though it is a relative of the Mimosa. Anyway, it attracts all kinds of rare birds and is quite beautiful. This shot is a close-up of its lower flowering branches.
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3 Comments:
Tepeguaje is a great tree for the Valley. It is native,it grows fast, and casts a nice dappled shade. The only draw back is like most fast growing trees it isn't particularly long lived. It will also spread around by seed (Not invasive but certainly vigorous) Here is a link to more about the tree. http://nativeplantproject.tripod.com/tepeguaje.htm
Paul
Thanks for the "real" spelling. About a month ago, Scarlett had mention this tree to me and ever since then I have been trying to find out how to really spell it. Even her article lately spelled it "as it sounds". She use to have a stand of it, here at her former house, here on E Sheepshead and the birds loved it.
Ann A
This is definitely one of Scarlet's favorite birding trees. The other day after our plant swap there was a "fall out". Warblers were everywhere. She explained to me that the sweet mimosa-scented flowers of the tepeguaje (which is in the mimosa family) attract bugs which the exhausted, hungry warblers feast on. So we must plant our tepeguajes. It was kind of disappointing to discover that the people that bought her home did not appreciate the importance of these trees and had them all removed. I guess to some people they look kind of messy.
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