I have a tree in my yard that is proving annoyingly difficult to identify. Can any tree-lovers help?
Description:
Simple broadleaf. Alternate branching. Elongated, elliptical-shaped leaves with very gradual taper at both the base and tip. Margins are smooth from base to midpoint. From midpoint to tip there are extremely subtle teeth or lobes (I can’t tell which, it’s that subtle). Leaves somewhat fragrant when crushed. The bark is mostly smooth with some stripe-like wrinkling. Unknown whether it produces fruit, unknown whether it is evergreen or deciduous. Found growing in Atlanta, Georgia.
It’s about 12 feet tall. Right from ground level it splits into 5 main trunks that are about 5-6 inches in diameter each. The branching is highly asymmetric and meandering, and the overall form of the tree is dome-ish.
Am forwarding this to my brother-in-law, who identifies and inventories trees as part of his job. However, he is currently on site somewhere in a California forest, so it may be a few days before he gets back to me. I’ll let you know if he comes up with anything.
I think this is probably correct. It certainly looks like a species in the genus Myrica, which are variously called waxmyrtles or bayberries (especially with regard to flower type and position). It seems most likely to be Southern Bayberry Myrica cerifolia.