Mastic
Sideroxylon foetidissimum
Plant Family: Sapotaceae
Leaves: Alternate, simple, light green, elliptic, with yellow midribs, to 20 cm; the veins are more prominent on young specimens, are less prominent with distinctive wavy edges on older trees.
Bark: Brown and lightly rough on younger trees, light gray to brown, rough and flaking on older trees, the twigs are light brown.
Flowers: Greenish-yellow, in short, dense clusters on the twigs beneath the younger leaves; spring to summer.
Fruits: Yellow, ripening to orange, rounded, to 2.5 cm, held on the twigs beneath the younger leaves, edible; summer to fall.
Habitat: Coastal hammocks.
Growth Form: Small to large tree.
Key Features: Potentially confused with other alternate leaved hammock species, however, the combination of light gray-brown bark and wavy edged leaves held on brown twigs should identify Mastic.
Comments: In older field guides this species is called Mastichodendron foetidissimum.
