|                    Gulf graytwig, Graytwig
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                |                    Schoepfia schreberi  
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                |                    Schoepfiaceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Grown by enthusiasts. | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
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                 Large shrub or small tree with a narrow, irregular crown.  Trunks to 18 inches in diameter, but usually much less.  Bark light brown, deeply furrowed.  Leaves thin, dark dull green, about 1-3 inches long. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
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                 Typically 10-20 feet in height.  Usually about as broad as tall. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
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                 Slow. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
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                 Monroe County Keys and Collier County north along the east coast to Volusia County; Greater Antilles.  Rare in the Monroe County Keys, and apparently absent to the west of Long Key. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the  Exploring Florida website. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Hammocks. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Light shade. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 Crimson. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 Inconspicuous. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 All year; peak fall-spring. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Red ovoid drupe ripening black. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                 Parasitic on the roots of other trees, although it apparently does not significantly harm the host.  Host for a native fruitfly (Anastrepha interrupta), which feeds on the fruits. | 
               
                     
                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Can be grown from seed. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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                 A semi-parasitic plant that is extremely difficult to grow.  Listed as endangered by the state of Florida. | 
               
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