Willow Bustic
Sideroxylon salicifolium
Plant Family: Sapotaceae
Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptic to lanceolate, to 12 cm; narrow and willow-like.
Bark: Brown, lightly fissured, with reddish inner bark, smoother on young trees.
Flowers: Monoecious, white, tiny, with five petals, in clusters on the branches below the new leaves, quite fragrant; seen late winter to early summer.
Fruits: A green, elliptic berry, ripening to black, to 1 cm, held on short stalks in clusters on the older parts of the branches; they are eaten by several bird species.
Habitat: Hammocks and pinelands.
Growth Form: Small to medium-sized tree.
Similar Species: The densely clustered flowers and fruits distinguish Willow Bustic from the true Willows (Salix spp.)
Comments: Willow Bustic has been re-assigned by taxonomists to the genus Sideroxylon. In older volumes this species is referenced as Dipholis salicifolia.
