Japanese privet

Family: OLEACEAE the OLIVE family

Japanese privet Ligustrum japonicum is one of three types of privet on campus.

Ligustrum japonicum or Japanese privet is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 2–6 m. It is commonly planted as a hedge because of its foliage and fragrant flowers. The plant is dispersed by birds and is quite shade tolerant. This has helped it establish wild populations in Florida and elsewhere around the world.

Description: Japanese privet is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 2–6 m with smooth, pale grey-brown bark. Flowers: Fragrant white, with a four-lobed corolla 5–6 mm long; they are borne in clusters 7–15 cm long in early summer. Fruit: An oval drupe, 10 mm long ripening to purple black coler. Leaves: Opposite 5–10 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, glossy dark green above, paler glaucous to yellowish green below, thick and leathery textured, and entire.

Similar to: Japanese privet is closely related to the Chinese privet Ligustrum lucidum, differing in its smaller size (L. lucidum being as tall as 10 m), and elongated oval (not subglobose) fruit

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Most of the Japanese privet on campus are not of sufficient size to be called a tree on FSU grounds in Tallahassee, this shows the larger specimens.

Quercus geminata Sand Live Oak

Family: FAGACEAE or beech family

Sand live oak, St. Joe's Bay.

Sand live oaks Q. geminata are similar to live oaks Q. virginiana. Only a few are on Florida State University campus, and they can look similar when grown in similar conditions. It is widespread in southern Florida all the way to the Keys and from Louisiana to North Carolina. It is not restricted to beaches, and is also found in sand-pine scrub, coastal hammocks and similar habitats.

Description: Roughly ridged bark. Flowers: hanging catkins. Fruit: Shiny dark brown acorns often black at tip, 1-2 cm long. Leaves:alternate, simple and entire, thick and leathery 2-12cm long x 0.5-4 cm wide, dull grey below.

Similar to: Sand live oak, (Quercus virginiana) which does not have depressed veins and revolute leaf margins (looking like a boat when looked at from the bottom). The bark is not as rough either.

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Flora of North America Illustrations including both Sand Live Oak and Live Oak


See specimens in the FSU herbarium.

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Map of sand live oaks on FSU grounds in Tallahassee

Crape myrtle or Lagerstroemia indica

Family: LYTHRACEAE the pomegranite and purple loosestrife family

Crepe myrtle or Lagerstroemia indica

Crape myrtle is the most common ornamental tree or large shrub on campus. Originally from Asia this plant is a popular ornamental in Florida and beyond. There are various >30 cultivars which were selected for their flower form and timing, plus disease resistance (especially against powdery mildew).
Description: Deciduous shrub or small tree to 8+ m in height with twisted branches and smooth brown bark. Flowers: a showy panicle (branched cluster of flowers) about 30 cm long. Colors white, pink, red or purple. Fruit: Egg shaped capsule. Leaves:Opposite or alternate, simple, mainly elliptic 2-7 cm long 1-4 cm wide.

Similar to: Pretty distinctive, not many similar plants.

Winged seeds of crape myrtle Photo: Steve Hurst. Provided by ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory. United States, FL.

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A clickable map of crape myrtle on FSU grounds in Tallahassee.

The Hollies - on campus

Family: AQUIFOLIACEAE the holly family

Holly or Ilex vomitoria though we are considering all the types on the FSU campus in this posting.

The Holly (Ilex) genus is popular among landscape architects, nurserymen and home gardeners. Botanists recognize approximately 470 taxa including 20 American Holly species, 120 Oriental species, and nearly 200 varieties of the English Holly. Many of the cultivars establish wild self-sustaining population in fields and near planted areas. The fruit are commonly dispersed by frugiverous birds. Shrubs or trees, mostly evergreen. Not all hollies have spiny leaves like the ones we associate with Christmas wreaths. There are least 5 varieties or species of tree sized hollies on campus.

Description: Shrub or small tree to 20+ m in height, mostly evergreen. Flowers: Flowers usually unisexual, usually 4-merous; petals connate at base. Stamens sometimes slightly united at base. Fruit: Usually globose and often bright red. Leaves:Usually alternate.

Similar to: This variable group of species likely to be similar to many other taxa but the fruit and flowers are often distinctive

 East Palatka Holly ( Ilex x attenuata 'East Palatka') growing at Rovetta Hall this is a natural hybrid between Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine) and Amercian Holly (Ilex opaca) that was discovered in 1927 growing near East Palatka,Florida

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A clickable map of all holly species and cultivars that have the size of a tree on FSU grounds in Tallahassee

Quercus virginiana an outstanding tree.

Family: FAGACEAE or beech family

A medium sized live oak on FSU campus.

Live oaks stand out among trees in Tallahassee providing a lasting first impression for visitors. In the FSU's picturesque park like grounds live oaks grow into impressive sprawling specimens dripping in mosses (lichens) and ferns. On hot summer days they provide welcome shade. Though these oaks are evergreen they lose and replace  their leaves year round.

Description: Large sprawling tree up 30+ m tall.Flowers: hanging catkins. Fruit: Shiny dark brown acorns often black at tip, 1-2.5 cm long. Leaves:alternate, simple and entire, leathery 2-15cm long x 1-5 cm wide, pale grey and slightly tomentose below.

Similar to: Sand live oak, (Quercus geminata) which has depressed veins and revolute leaf margins.

Live oak Acorns. Photo: Steve Hurst. Provided by ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory. United States, FL.


See specimens in the FSU herbarium.

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Map (click on points for information) of live oaks on FSU grounds in Tallahassee

Bluford W. Muir. Provided by National Agricultural Library. Originally from US Forest Service. United States, LA, New Orleans, Audubon Park. 1937.