Landscape Uses:
	Accent or specimen tree in restidential or commercial landscapes.
Ecological Restoration Notes:
	A common sub-canopy or canopy tree in rockland hammocks on the Miami Rock Ridge.
Availability:
	Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description:
	Medium tree, rarely a large tree, with and erect trunk and an open, irregular crown. Bark thin, smooth, nearly white on younger trees. Leaves dull green, leathery, 1/2 - 1 1/2 inches long.
Height:
	Typically 20-30 feet in height; to 55 feet in South Florida. Taller than broad.
Growth Rate:
	Moderate.
Range:
	Miami-Dade County; Bahamas, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. In South Florida, known only from Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park northeast along the Miami-Rock Ridge to the Miami River. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the Exploring Florida website.
Habitats:
	Rockland hammocks.
Soils:
	Moist, well-drained limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
	Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
	Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
	Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
	High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
	Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
	White.
Flower Characteristics:
	Inconspicuous. Dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.
Flowering Season:
	Spring.
Fruit:
	Red drupe, turning purplish to black.
Wildlife and Ecology:
	Provides significant food and cover for wildlife.
Horticultural Notes:
	Can be grown from de-pulped seed after the fruit is fully ripe. Clean and plant right away; the seeds do not store well. Plant in a container with at least 2" of soil. Sprinkle soil to just cover the seeds. Place in partial shade.
Comments:
	The leaves turn conspicuously black when they die. It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida.