Acacia auriculaeformis. Leguminosae. Ear leaf or Ear Form
 Acacia. Southern area. Evergreen. Australia.
 Ear leaf is a common ornamental tree found in southern Florida.
 Trees are symmetrical with drooping branches and grow to a height
 of 20 to 30 feet (Fig. 2). Leaves are simple, thick, nearly sickle-like
 in shape, 3 to 6 inches long and 11/2 to 2 inches broad with 5 or 6
 large ribs running from base to tip. An abundance of yellow flowers
 appears on 2- to 3-inch clustered spikes in early spring and some-
 times in the fall. Flat pea-like pods 2 to 4 inches long appear after
 flowers and become curved upon themselves at maturity.
 A primary reason for popularity of ear leaf is its rapid growth
 rate and ability to provide shade in a short period of time. Acacias
 are brittle and easily broken in hurricanes, but recover rapidly and
 have no other bad faults. Use in the landscape as a framing, shade
 or street tree. This acacia is mildly salt tolerant, but must be used
 well back from the seacoast. Insect and disease pests are not con-
 sidered to be a problem, although trees may sometimes be attacked
 by cottony cushion scale.









 Fig. 2.-Ear form acacia,
 Acacia auriculae-
 formis.









 Acer rubrum. Aceraceae. Red Maple, Swamp Maple or Scarlet
Maple. Southern, Central and Northern areas. Deciduous. Native.
 Red maple grows to 70 feet, is upright in growth habit, forms
a narrow cylindrical crown and grows well in partial shade. Deciduous
foliage is simple, typically 3- or 5-lobed, usually with red petioles and
turns to bright scarlet and yellow in late fall. Small red flowers and
fruit clusters appear during December and January. Red maple is
one of the first trees to herald the return of spring with its brilliant
display of red flowers.