Landscape Uses:
	An accent or specimen tree in residential and commercial landscapes, but slow growing and sometimes difficult to establish.
Ecological Restoration Notes:
	An important canopy or subcanopy tree in hammocks.
Availability:
	Widely cultivated.
Description:
	Small to medium tree with slender branches. Trunk 4-10 inches in diameter, rarely more. Bark dark gray, rough, becoming furrowed and forming vertical ridges. Leaves attractive, bright glossy green above, 1-1 1/2 inches long. Unfolding leaves are pinkish.
Height:
	Typically 15-25 feet in height; to 33 feet in South Florida. Usually taller than broad.
Growth Rate:
	Slow to very slow.
Range:
	Monroe County Keys north along east coast to Brevard County; West Indies, Mexico and Central America.
Habitats:
	Hammocks.
Soils:
	Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
	Moderate to high; grows best with some organic content and may languish in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
	Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
	Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance:
	High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
	Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
	Greenish.
Flower Characteristics:
	Inconspicuous, but the small flowers secrete copious amounts of nectar.
Flowering Season:
	All year; peak late spring to late summer.
Fruit:
	Oval or nearly round, 1/3" long drupe, ripening black. Mostly maturing summer to fall. Edible; sweet.
Wildlife and Ecology:
	Provides moderate amounts of food and significant cover for wildlife. Birds and other animals eat the fruits.
Comments:
	The wood is hard, the densest of all woods native to South Florida; it will sink in water.