WESTERN A rborist Trees in the landscape, Part 8: Olmediella betschleriana Donald R. Hodel
Olmediella betschleriana dry wit, humor, and charm. One such sincephala, Olmediella cesatiana, O. (Göpp.) Loes. tree he brought to our attention was in ilicifolia, Xylosma aquifolia. front of a handsome, gray California bungalow, and, waving his ever-pres- Common names: Guatemalan holly, In the fall of 1972, while an under- ent notched stick like a magic wand, Costa Rican holly, manzanote. graduate majoring in ornamental Jim proclaimed this spiny-leaved horticulture at California State Poly- plant to be Guatemalan holly. With Etymology: The origin of the Latin technic University in Pomona, I was its spiny leaves we could easily see binomial is somewhat obscure. The taking the plant materials class on the origin of part of its common name genus name Olmediella is simply the trees from my professor, good friend, while the other part conjured up im- diminutive form of another tropical and person responsible for my addic- ages of an exotic, intriguing, tropical American genus in the Moraceae (fig) tion to palms, the late James L. Degen. place, a destination I dreamed of vis- family, Olmedia, which was named in As we often did for his plant materials iting. Over the last 41 years this tree 1794 likely for a Spanish or Peruvian classes, we were walking the streets of nearby San Dimas and Jim was pointing out various trees, offering his insights and opinions about each tree, It makes a superb park, lawn, extolling its virtues or pointing out its foibles, always with his incomparably shade, or street tree and, because of its generally dense foliage and Figure 1. Guatemalan holly is a choice and attractive if not curious, medium branching habit, it also finds use to large, evergreen tree that makes a superb park, lawn, shade, or, in some as a background plant, screen, bar- cases, even a street tree (11840 Stan- wood Dr., Los Angeles, CA). rier, or a trimmed, tall hedge.
and the memories it provokes have botanist or patron of the sciences, and frequented my mind so I take great to which Olmediella is perhaps similar. pleasure in writing about it here. Because Olmediella was originally Olmediella betschleriana is a choice described from material cultivated and attractive, if not curious, medium in Europe, where it seldom flowered to large, evergreen tree much prized and fruited, its relationship was only for its exceedingly handsome, thick, guessed at, and was at one time or sturdy, glossy green, holly-like leaves. another erroneously placed in the It makes a superb park, lawn, shade, Aquifoliacease, Sapindaceae, Faga- or, in some cases, even a street tree ceae, or Moraceae families (Standley (Fig. 1) and, because of its generally and Williams 1961). The specific dense foliage and branching habit, it epithet betschleriana is likely named in also finds use as a background plant, honor of Betschler of whom nothing is screen, barrier, or a trimmed, tall known and this person was not men- hedge or other shape. tioned in the original description.
Taxonomy and history History: Johann Heinrich Robert Synonyms: Croton tuerckheimii, Dovya- Göppert (1800-1884) described and lis cesatiana, Ilex betschleriana, Licopolia named this tree as Ilex betschleriana in
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Figure 2. (Left) Guatemalan holly is a small to large, moderately fast-growing, broad-leaved, evergreen, armed, dioecious tree to 60 feet tall and wide (11814 Stanwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA). Figure 3. (Center left) The canopy of Guatemalan holly is irregular but with little or no pruning can be dense and pyramidal with branches and foliage often nearly to the ground (Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, CA). Figure 4. (Center right) The trunk of Guatemalan holly is typically thick, robust with age (11834 Stanwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA). Figure 5. (Right) Arborist Ken Greby provides scale for this exceptionally large Guatemalan holly with a trunk 30 inches DBH (11827 Stanwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA).
1855, basing it on cultivated mate- moderately fast-growing, broad-leaf, branch angles. rial at Herrenhausen in Hannover, evergreen, armed, dioecious tree to Germany. Ludwig Eduard Theodor 60 feet tall and wide (Fig. 2); canopy Bark: whitish, smooth (Fig. 6). Loesener (1865-1941) transferred it to irregular, generally broadly columnar Olmediella in 1905. (oval) to rounded or pyramidal and Leaves: variable, simple, alternate, typically dense, branches and foliage dark glossy green (Fig. 7), new Description often nearly to the ground (Fig. 3). growth bronzy to chocolate brown The description is primarily from (Fig. 8), 3-5 × 1-2.5 inches, oblong Standley and Williams (1961) and Trunk: usually solitary, sometimes or elliptic oblong, thick, leathery, supplemented from cultivated speci- short and branching into multiple rigid, short- to long-pointed at apex, mens in California. trunks close to the ground, to 30 rounded or obtuse at base, 6-9 pairs of inches DBH (Figs. 4-5); irregular lateral nerves, margins variable, typi- Habit/conformation: small to large, branching with narrow to wide cally coarsely toothed with prominent
Figure 6. (Left) Bark of Guatemalan holly is whitish and smooth (John F. Enders Elementary School, Garden Grove, CA). Figure 7. (Center left) While variable, the handsome leaves of Guatemalan holly are typi- cally thick, stiff, and glossy green (Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, CA). Figure 8. (Center) New growth of Guatemalan holly is chocolate brown (Fullerton Arbore- tum, Fullerton, CA). Figure 9. (Right) Leaves of Guatemalan holly on non-flowering juvenile or epicormic growth are typically coarsely toothed with spine-tipped teeth (11814 Stanwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA).
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Figure 10. (Upper left) Leaves of Guatemalan holly have smooth, entire margins or nearly so on flowering, mature growth (John F. Enders Elementary School, Garden Grove, CA). Figure 11. (Lower left) Leaves of Guatemalan holly have smooth, entire margins or nearly so on flowering, mature growth (John F. Enders Elementary School, Garden Grove, CA). Figure 12. (Center) The base of the leaf of Guatemalan holly has two minute, conical glands, one on each side of the mid- rib at the petiole (11840 Stanwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA). Figure 13. (Upper center) While staminate (male) inflorescences of Guatemalan holly are conspicuous they are not particu- larly showy because they are close to or proximal of branch tips and somewhat hidden among the foliage (11840 Stanwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA). Figure 14. (Lower center) Staminate (male) inflorescences of Guatemalan holly are 5-9-floweredacemes r to 5 inches long (11840 Stanwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA). Figure 15. (Upper right) Staminate (male) flowers of Guatemalan holly are a hemispherical “head” of stamens nearly an inch wide (11840 Stanwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA).Figure 11. (Lower left) Leaves of Guatemalan holly have smooth, entire margins or nearly so on flowering, mature growth (John F. Enders Elementary School, Garden Grove, CA). Figure 16. (Lower right) Pistillate (female) inflorescences of Guatemalan holly are short, compact, 6-8-floweredacemes r to 2 inches long (11814 Stanwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA).
spine-tipped teeth on non-flowering mal half and forming a 16-18-lobed, (wider than long, like a squashed or juvenile and epicormic growth (Fig. flat, crown-like calyx 0.6 inch wide, depressed sphere), style short, 0.04 9) but smooth or entire or nearly so lobes 0.1 inch long, long-triangular, inch long, branching into 10 abruptly on mature or flowering growth Figs.( sharp-pointed; petals none; receptacle spreading arms to 0.16 inch long; fall 10-11); two minute, conical glands at to 0.25 inch wide, reddish; stamens to spring, heaviest in February in the base of the leaf, one on each side of up to 85, to 0.4 inch long, anthers 0.04 southern California. the midrib at the petiole (Fig. 12). inch long. Pistillate (female) flowers in inconspicuous, short, compact, 6-8- Fruits: to 1.75 inches long and 3.5 Flowers: in few-flowered, axillary flowered raceme to 2 inches long Fig.( inches wide, oblate (wider than long, inflorescences (clusters) near or some 16), peduncle to 0.2 inch long, rachis like a squashed or depressed sphere), distance proximally of branch tips. to 0.8 inch long; individual flowers smooth, green when ripe (Figs. 17- Staminate (male) conspicuous but not to 0.25 inch long and 0.45 inch wide, 18), eventually aging to black (Fig. showy (Fig. 13), short, 5-9-flowered green, on short branch to 0.2 inch 19), hard, durable; seeds are much the raceme to 5 inches long (Fig. 14), long and pedicel 0.2 inch long; sepals same size and shape of watermelon peduncle to 0.4 inch long, rachis to small, green, imbricate in proximal seeds, to 0.35 inch long. 0.2 inch wide, 2.75 inches long; individual flowers two-thirds and forming an 8-lobed, 0.06 inch thick, ovate, tan to black, appearing as a hemispherical “head” somewhat flat, crown-like calyx to pointed, flat (Fig. 20). of stamens, to 0.7 inch long and 0.9 0.08 inch high and 0.45 inch wide, inch wide (Fig. 15), yellowish aging sepals to 0.2 inch long and 0.14 inch Distribution and ecology to greenish white, on short branch to wide, triangular, long-sharp-pointed Guatemalan holly occurs in, moist or 0.4 inch long and pedicel 0.8 inch long; free lobes; petals none; ovary to 0.15 wet mountain forests and cloud for- sepals small, green, connate in proxi- inch long and 0.2 inch wide, oblate ests from 4,500 to 8,500 feet elevation
Summer 2013 44 WESTERN A rborist from southern Mexico through Gua- 85°F. Plants grew to about 12 inches temala, Honduras, and El Salvador to tall after one year. Barrie Coate (pers. Join TAC Nicaragua. These areas are typically comm.) notes that he grew Guatema- covered with dense, rich, broad-leaf, lan holly from seeds at the Saratoga TAC or the Tree Advisory Com- evergreen forests with little daily or Horticultural Foundation in the Bay mittee enables everyone to seasonal variation in temperature Area in the late 1950s as a standard share their experiences and and rainfall. Depending on the loca- tree form in five-gallon containers observations managing spe- tion, rainfall ranges from 30 to over without any problems other than its cific trees in our landscape and 100 inches annually. However, even sensitivity to cold when small (which urban forests for this series in lower-rainfall areas cloud cover, see below under Environmental Tol- Trees in the Landscape. TAC is including fog, and high humidity erances). free, easy to join, and open to are nearly always constant. Day-time Cuttings might be somewhat dif- everyone. Simply send me an high temperatures range from the 60s ficult to root but are necessary if a e-mail expressing your desire to the 70s°F while night-time low tem- staminate plant (no fruit litter, which to participate in TAC. I will e- peratures are typically in the 40s and see below under Problems/Litter) or mail all TAC members notifying 50s°F but can drop into the 30s°F and a specific form (less spiny) is desired. them which tree species I will frosts are common (Breedlove 1981), The key to root cutting successfully be profiling in an upcoming is- especially on clear, winter nights at might be to use spiny-leaved juvenile sue of Western Arborist. TAC high latitudes and altitudes. foliage. Glen Williams (pers. comm.) members can then respond to reports about 80% success in root- me about their experiences Propagation and growth rate ing four-to-six-leaf tip cuttings of and observations managing that Guatemalan holly can be propagated immature but firm (not hard), spiny- tree. Upcoming species to be by seeds, which are typically available leaved, juvenile growth. He used a covered in this series include nearly year round, and cuttings. Seeds rooting hormone and simply placed Alectryon excelsus, Chirantho- germinate readily within a month or the cuttings in a 30-gallon aquarium dendron pentadactylon, and so if handled correctly. To extract tank with no bottom heat. Apparently Robinsonella cordata among seeds use a heavy hammer or brick others have tried using entire-leaf foli- others. to smash the hard, green but ripe age from mature flowering or fruiting fruits (Fig. 20). Sow seeds in a clean, trees with little or no success. The use Join TAC by e-mailing me: moist, well drained and aerated me- of bottom heat (70°F) and intermit-
Figure 17. (Left) Fruits of Guatemalan holly are to 1.75 inches long and 3.5 inches wide, oblate (tomato-shaped), smooth, hard, and green when ripe (John F. Enders Elementary School, Garden Grove, CA). Figure 18. (Center left) Fruits of Guatemalan holly are large and shaped like a squashed or depressed sphere (11814 Stan- wood Dr., Los Angeles, CA). Figure 19. (Center right) Fruits of Guatemalan holly are ripe and fall from the tree when green but eventually turn black with age (John F. Enders Elementary School, Garden Grove, CA). Figure 20. (Right) Using a hammer or brick to smash the fruits of Guatemalan holly will reveal the tan to black seeds that look much like those of watermelon (John F. Enders Elementary School, Garden Grove, CA).
45 Summer 2013 WESTERN A rborist Guatemalan holly is surprisingly tol- not investigated, drought tolerance heading back of the upright leader erant and adaptable despite its origin of Guatemalan holly is likely low and and selection of lateral scaffold in moist to wet, somewhat cool areas trees probably need regular irriga- branches are probably necessary. with little daily or seasonal variation. tion, especially in warmer, more arid Also, because trees have a tendency Williamson (1987) listed it for Sun- interior areas. to retain lower lateral branches, these set zones 9 and 14-24 in California, will have to be removed if pedestrian making it suitable for the Bay Area, Uses or vehicular clearance is required in warmer parts of the Central Valley, Guatemalan holly makes a superb the landscape. and central and southern coastal park, lawn, shade, or, in some cases, If trees leave the nursery with plains and interior valleys. It is rated even a street tree and, because of its proper structure and form, little or for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 10 generally dense foliage and branching no pruning should be necessary in (UFEI 2013). Old, mature specimens habit, it also finds use as a background the landscape. Only judicious thin- will tolerate temperatures to about plant, screen, or barrier. Much like ning out to reduce canopy density, 20°F (Williamson 1987) although various Ficus, Eugenia, or Syzygium if desired, and pruning to encour- young trees might be damaged at even spp., it can also be severely pruned age or maintain structure might be higher temperatures, about 30°F (Bar- into a tall hedge or other shape. required. rie Coate pers. comm.). Guatemalan Staminate (male) trees are preferred holly is likely not well adapted to the for street use because of the lack of Problems/litter desert areas of southern California, large, hard, heavy fruits of pistillate Guatemalan holly is largely problem western Arizona, and southern Ne- (female) trees (which see below under free. Older trees at the peak of flower- vada. It would likely perform well in Problems/Litter). ing in February in southern California cooler, upland areas of Hawai‘i, such can produce abundant staminate as on the Big Island and Maui, but the Pruning/management (male) flower litter and attract bees risk of it becoming invasive needs to Because of a tendency for strong, on warm, still days, and leaf drop be determined (which see below un- straight, upright growth when young, prior to flushes of new growth can be der Weed/Invasive Species Risk). Guatemalan holly needs little prun- somewhat heavy. However, the most Guatemalan holly is tolerant of the ing in the nursery. Provide adequate significant problem is fruit drop that, cool, moist, foggy, humid conditions space and retain lower branches to because of their large size and hard of the coast as well as the heat and encourage maximum trunk caliper. texture, can damage autos and hurt aridity of interior valleys in Califor- However, for street or other use pedestrians. Selection of staminate nia. It also tolerates wind, air pollu- where a single trunk is desired, re- trees will eliminate fruit litter. tion, and light or heavy or alkaline or moval of competing lateral trunks Guatemalan holly is rather long- acid soils. It is likely intolerant of poor or upright basal branches, if any, is lived, up to 150 years, and has me- drainage and the most limiting factors likely necessary in nursery produc- dium branch strength, low root dam- in its wider use might be intolerance tion or early in the landscape. To age potential, and no known health of severe cold and the extreme heat encourage a broader, more rounded hazards (UFEI 2013). and aridity of desert areas. Although canopy, reduction pruning and/or
Figure 21. (Left) Perhaps the nicest trees of Guatemalan holly line the 11800 block of Stanwood Drive in Los Angeles, CA. Figure 22. (Right) A trio of small but well shaped specimens of Guatemalan holly is in the Murphy Sculpture Garden on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.).
Summer 2013 46 WESTERN A rborist Pests and diseases There are no serious pests and diseas- es of Guatemalan holly in California.
Weed/invasive species risk While Guatemalan holly has not been officially evaluated for invasiveness in Hawai‘i (HEAR-PIER 2013), it should be thoroughly assessed prior to planting. Its invasiveness has not Figure 25. (Left) In Santa Barbara the been assessed for California but it is First Congregational Church on State likely a low risk. Street has two specimens of Guatema- Availability lan holly, one of which fruits abun- dantly. Although uncommon in the trade, Guatemalan holly is occasionally Figure 26. (Right) On the campus of available in a few nurseries in Cali- California Polytechnic State University fornia. San Marcos Growers in Santa in San Luis Obispo there is a pair of Barbara and Pacific Tree Farms in Guatemalan hollies, one staminate Chula Vista (now out of business) (male) and one pistillate (female), occasionally offered it for sale. The southeast of the Robert E. Kennedy presence of fruiting trees and ease of Library just at the west end of Math- germination should encourage more ematics & Sciences Building 38. nurseries to grow Guatemalan holly. The Los Angeles County Arbore- spiny-leaf, juvenile foliage all the way Trees in California tum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia to the ground (Fig. 3). Also in Orange Perhaps the nicest trees of Guate- has a plant it received in 1966 and County in front of John Enders El- malan holly line the 11800 block of that is now about 45 feet tall and wide ementary School in Garden Grove are Stanwood Drive in Los Angeles (Fig. and produces fruit although no stami- several small but mature specimens 21). They are estimated to be 50 to 60 nate plant is in the collection, which frequently in fruit (Figs. 23-24). years of age, are up to 60 feet tall, and suggests a staminate plant is not too Farther north in Santa Barbara the have trunks up to 30 inches DBH. Not distant in the area. First Congregational Church on State too far away in the Murphy Sculpture The Fullerton Arboretum on the Street has two specimens of medium Garden on the campus of the Univer- Campus of California State University size, one of which fruits abundantly sity of California (U.C.L.A.) are three in Fullerton has a rather unusual, nar- (Fig. 25). Another specimen about 25 small but well shaped specimens rowly pyramidal or conical specimen feet tall and 20 feet wise is at 101 San (Fig. 22). with a dense canopy of dark green, Roque in Santa Barbara. On the cam- pus of California Polytechnic State Figure 23. (Left) John F. Enders El- University in San Luis Obispo there is ementary School in Garden Grove, CA a pair of trees, one staminate and one has several small but nice specimens pistillate, southeast of the Robert E. of Guatemalan holly. Kennedy Library just at the west end Figure 24. (Right) John F. Enders El- of Mathematics & Sciences Building ementary School in Garden Grove, CA 38 (CPPC 2013) (Fig 26). has several small but nice specimens The Strybing Arboretum in Gold- of Guatemalan holly. en Gate Park in San Francisco had a double-trunk specimen about 45 feet tall in 1991 in the South American sec- tion and younger trees, planted in the 1980s, in the New World Cloud Forest collection (McClintock 1991).
Notes Olmediella contains only one species and until recently was placed in the Flacourtiaceae family along with
47 Summer 2013 WESTERN A rborist some more commonly known genera undeservedly rare species, Chirantho- nature. The spiny, holly-like leaves like Azara, Dovyalis, and Xylosma. dendron pentadactylon and Robinsonella are more typical of non-flowering However, work by the Angiosperm cordata, which I will write about in and epicormic, more juvenile growth Phylogeny Group has moved many future installments of this series. while the leaves with entire, nearly genera out of Flacourtiaceae and into Known in Guatemala as manzan- smooth margins are more typical Salicaceae, which originally contained ote, which is derived from the Spanish of mature, flowering growth. Also, only three genera, Salix (willows), manzana or apple, perhaps alluding the holly-like, non-flowering and Populus (poplars), and Chosenia, but to its firm, green fruits, Guatemalan epicormic, juvenile growth tends to now includes 55 (Stevens 2013). holly is extensively cultivated in the be lower in the tree canopy while the Standley and Williams (1961), capitol and other municipalities in the smooth-margined, mature, flowering who called Guatemalan holly “one central region as a favorite park and growth is lighter green and tends to of the most interesting trees of Gua- street tree. The Paseo de la Reforma be higher in the canopy. temala,” noted that while it was in Guatemala City and Parque Central Because of its naturally dense cultivated in Europe, especially Italy, in Antigua are well known for their growth, Guatemalan holly, much since the 1870s, it rarely flowered or Guatemalan holly trees (Standley and like species of various Ficus, Eugenia, fruited there so its taxonomic relation- William 1961, Juan Jose Castillo pers. or Syzygium spp., is amenable to ships and position were only guessed comm.). rather severe pruning. In Guatemala at. Even the source of the European The Westcott brothers introduced it is often found pruned into dense, plants was a mystery until 1932 when Guatemalan holly to California in globular shapes that, while formal Standley, one of the foremost students the middle 1930s, sharing seeds they and artificial, are, nonetheless, still of tropical American plants of his had obtained in Guatemala with fa- handsome (Standley and Williams time, confirmed that material sent to mous Los Angeles nurseryman Paul 1961). Several references recognize him from mountain forests in Guate- J. Howard (McClintock 1991). In the this feature and recommend it for use mala was this species (Standley and 1950s Howard shared a plant with as a pruned screen or hedge or even a William 1961). Although now consid- Eric Walther, first director of Strybing potted subject (Hoyt 1958, UFEI 2013, ered endangered in many areas of its Arboretum in Golden Gate Park in Williamson 1987). distribution, it was once apparently San Francisco. Residents of the11800 block of abundant in the rich, dense, mountain Guatemalan holly was first named Stanwood Drive in Los Angeles where rain and cloud forests of Guatemala as a species of Ilex (holly), undoubt- Guatemalan holly is a street tree say where it was particularly common edly because of its spiny, holly-like that falling fruit can easily crack a on the slopes of Volcan Pacaya and leaves. Indeed, its handsome, thick, car window. The dioecious nature of Acatenango and similar areas in the lustrous green leaves, especially those this species, though, offers a solution central region of the country (Stand- with the lobed margins and each to the problem of fruit litter: asexual ley and Williams (1961). These forests lobe tipped with a sharp spine, are propagation by cuttings, grafting, or must be especially intriguing and strikingly similar to those of several air layers of staminate (male) material interesting for they harbor at least species of Ilex. However, the leaves will eliminate fruit litter. two other unusually handsome and are extremely variable in their spiny
Literature cited Breedlove, D. E. 1981. Flora of Chiapas. Part 1: Introduction. The California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. CPPC. 2013. Cal Poly Plant Conservatory (San Luis Obispo). http://www.plantconservatory.calpoly.edu/Tree/Olmedi- ella_betschleriana.html. Accessed February 19, 2013. HEAR-PIER. 2013. Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk-Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk. http://www.hear.org/pier/index. html. Accessed January 4, 2013. Hoyt, R. S. 1958. Checklists for Ornamental Plants of Subtropical Regions. Privately Published. McClintock, E. 1991. Trees of Strybing Arboretum: 5, Dahlia, Montanoa, and Olmediella. Pac. Hort. 52(2): 16-18. Standley, P. C. and L. O. Williams. 1961. Flora of Guatemala. Olmediella betschleriana. Fieldiana, Bot. 24(7/1): 98- 100. Stevens, P. F. (2013). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 12, July 2012. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/ APweb/. Accessed February 25, 2013. UFEI. 2013. Cal Poly Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute. Olmediella betschleriana. http://selectree.calpoly.edu/ treedetail.lasso?rid=974. Accessed February 19, 2013. Williamson, J. F. (ed.). 1987. Sunset New Western Garden Book. Sunset Publishing Corp., Menlo Park, CA.
Summer 2013 48 WESTERN A rborist Acknowledgements James E. Henrich, botanist at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia, arborist Ken Greby, and botanist and author Matt Ritter of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo critically reviewed the manuscript and offered valuable suggestions. Matt Ritter, Ken Greby, and Barrie Coate provided information about Guatemalan holly in California. Juan Jose Castillo provided information about Guatemalan holly in Guate- mala. Susan Eubank, librarian at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia provided some literature about Guatemalan holly. Sherry Tobin, also of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, offered information about seed propagation. James E. Henrich provided information about Guatemalan holly at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gar- den. Michael H. Grayum, curator at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis helped with the derivation of the name and classification ofOlmedi - ella. David Pekelney and his son Sam, residents of Stanwood Drive in Los Angeles, helped to collect staminate and pistillate flowers and fruit for photographs.
Donald R. Hodel is the Environ- mental and Landscape Horticul- ture Advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension in Los Angeles, a position he has held for nearly 30 years. Don de- velops and implements education- al and applied research programs for the professional tree and land- scape management industries. He specializes in the selection and management of trees and palms.
49 Summer 2013