Elephant Odyssey Trees the Numbers to the Plant ID Signs
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10 Pink Ball Tree 13 Broad-leaved Coral Tree Dombeya wallichii Erythrina latissima Native to eastern Africa and A fantastic red-flowering tree Madagascar, this small tree from southeast Africa’s coast. produces hanging balls of This tree has large leaves richly fragrant pink flowers. and corky bark. A good tree Its heart-shaped leaves add for urban settings, it is also a to its beauty. favorite of many types of birds. Coral trees are known for their flowers, inspiring artwork and paintings. Often overlooked are the FUN This species doesn’t drop its leaves in winter unless FACT equally colorful seeds. FUN temperatures fall dramatically. FACT 14 Nile Tulip Tree Markhamia lutea 11 Elephant Tree In its native east Africa, this tree Operculicarya decaryi can grow to heights of 50 feet and blooms most of the year. It Southwest Madagascar is is commonly grown for timber, home to many unusual plants, as windbreaks, and to manage including this one. It survives in soil erosion. that arid environment thanks to its specially adapted trunk and leaves. Amazingly, these features allow the elephant tree to go many months without water. The two-foot-long seed pods hang down and look FUN like twisted ribbons dangling from the tree. FACT This plant belongs to the large family Anacardiaceae. Other members include poison oak and poison ivy —but FUN FACT also cashews, pistachios, and mangoes. 15 Knobby Fig Ficus sansibarica A most unusual fig tree from east Africa. This tree produces large figs that fruit up and down the 12 Winter Thorn Acacia trunk and branches. This form Faidherbia albida of fruiting, known as cauliflory, makes it easier for certain animals This very large growing thorn to reach the fruits. tree is found throughout most of Africa and the Middle East. It has many uses, from fodder This tree, along with others here at the Zoo, was grown to woodworking to erosion from seeds collected in Tanzania in the 1990s by a FUN control and as human food FACT researcher studying savanna chimpanzees. and medicine. Made possible through the generosity of The word albida in the scientific name means The Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation “white,” and was given in recognition of the tree’s FUN FACT pale branches. sandiegozoo.org Elephant Odyssey Trees the numbers to the plant ID signs. The tour Matchbegins at Map Locator (ML) 10 and winds through 4 Senegal Mahogany 7 Tree Fuchsia Elephant Odyssey, ending at ML 19. Khaya senegalensis Schotia brachypetala Mountain Rock Fig This tree is found in the savannas A magnificent tree from southern 1 Ficus glumosa and woodlands across central Africa known for its show-stopping Africa. Like most mahogany trees, burst of scarlet flowers. Humans are Found among woodlands and rocky its future existence in the wild is not the only ones who admire this outcrops across much of Africa, threatened—so much so, that it tree; scores of nectar-feeding birds this plant is mostly absent from the is included on the IUCN Red List visit the flowers as well as insects. tropical rain forests and arid regions and conservation measures are The presence of insects attracts within its range. The leaves from this recommended for future survival. other birds who feed on them—a tree have been used to treat many true ecosystem! ailments for over 2,000 years. The IUCN Red List is a classification system for Because of the ease of growing and the beauty protecting endangered species worldwide. IUCN of this tree, it has been used extensively in urban With over 120 species growing on our grounds, FUN stands for International Union for the Conservation FUN FACT FACT settings in Spain and Australia. the San Diego Zoo has one of the largest Ficus of Nature. FUN FACT collections in the world. 2 Monkey Thorn 5 Croton 8 Sausage Tree Acacia galpinii Croton megalocarpus Kigelia africana This thorn acacia is from drier Widespread and common From tropical Africa, this woodland areas of southeastern throughout southeast Africa, this medium-sized tree produces Africa. It is a fast growing, deciduous tree thrives in cleared areas and odd-looking fruits that hang tree that can reach nearly 100 feet forest margins. Recent studies down and bear a striking tall. In the spring and summer, show that the oil from the seeds resemblance to sausages. The kudu, elephants, and giraffes enjoy of this plant has enormous ‘sausages’ are very hard and browsing on its leaves. potential for use as a biofuel. can weigh up to 20 pounds. Acacia trees are a food source for animals here at the Biofuel is a burgeoning industry for energy The flowers of this tree open at night and are Zoo. We grow and harvest several species of acacia FUN FUN production and an alternative to fossil fuels. FUN pollinated primarily by bats. FACT for animals such as giraffes and okapi. FACT FACT 3 Natal Mahogany 6 Million Dollar Tree 9 Dwarf Coral Tree Trichilia dregeana Delonix decaryi Erythrina humeana From the high rainfall areas of Natal, One of the most unusual and Coral trees are known for their South Africa to tropical forests of prized trees here at the Zoo, it spectacular winter blooms. central Africa this beautiful tree can bears a spectacular display of However, this species is unique be found growing naturally. Being a flowers in late spring and summer. in that it blooms most of the mahogany, its desirable wood is used This species is only found in a year, peaking in fall. This hardy in woodworking. There are also many narrow strip of land in southwest native of South Africa can other uses of this tree from food to Madagascar and the remaining handle cooler temperatures and medicine to shade. trees are very threatened. requires little care. Mahogany is a general term for several types of trees The bottle-like trunk of this tree has been used to make known for their fine-grained wood. Yet, due to their canoes in Madagascar for many years, contributing to the Not all coral trees are large. Some, like this FUN FUN FUN species, grow as shrubs or small trees. FACT value, many species are threatened in the wild. FACT dwindling number of existing trees in the wild. FACT 10 Pink Ball Tree 13 Broad-leaved Coral Tree Dombeya wallichii Erythrina latissima Native to eastern Africa and A fantastic red-flowering tree Madagascar, this small tree from southeast Africa’s coast. produces hanging balls of This tree has large leaves richly fragrant pink flowers. and corky bark. A good tree Its heart-shaped leaves add for urban settings, it is also a to its beauty. favorite of many types of birds. Coral trees are known for their flowers, inspiring artwork and paintings. Often overlooked are the FUN This species doesn’t drop its leaves in winter unless FACT equally colorful seeds. FUN temperatures fall dramatically. FACT 14 Nile Tulip Tree Markhamia lutea 11 Elephant Tree In its native east Africa, this tree Operculicarya decaryi can grow to heights of 50 feet and blooms most of the year. It Southwest Madagascar is is commonly grown for timber, home to many unusual plants, as windbreaks, and to manage including this one. It survives in soil erosion. that arid environment thanks to its specially adapted trunk and leaves. Amazingly, these features allow the elephant tree to go many months without water. The two-foot-long seed pods hang down and look FUN like twisted ribbons dangling from the tree. FACT This plant belongs to the large family Anacardiaceae. Other members include poison oak and poison ivy —but FUN FACT also cashews, pistachios, and mangoes. 15 Knobby Fig Ficus sansibarica A most unusual fig tree from east Africa. This tree produces large figs that fruit up and down the 12 Winter Thorn Acacia trunk and branches. This form Faidherbia albida of fruiting, known as cauliflory, makes it easier for certain animals This very large growing thorn to reach the fruits. tree is found throughout most of Africa and the Middle East. It has many uses, from fodder This tree, along with others here at the Zoo, was grown to woodworking to erosion from seeds collected in Tanzania in the 1990s by a FUN control and as human food FACT researcher studying savanna chimpanzees. and medicine. Made possible through the generosity of The word albida in the scientific name means The Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation “white,” and was given in recognition of the tree’s FUN FACT pale branches. sandiegozoo.org Elephant Odyssey Trees.