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Identifying Characteristics |
Size/Form:
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Brazilian pepper is a small evergreen tree reaching 30'
to 43' in height. Uneven crown. It typically grows multi-stemmed trunks
creating a tangled mass of arching and crossing branches to form dense
thickets. Sprouts easily from trunk and roots. |
Leaves:
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Leaves are pinnately compound and alternate reaching 5"
to 8" in length. Composed of three to eleven (usually seven to nine)
leaflets, 1" to 2" long, with a terminal leaflet. Leaflets are
elliptical and oblong. The upper surface is dark green with a paler underside.
Toothed margin. Leaves are aromatic when crushed, smelling peppery or
like turpentine. Winged midrib. |
Fruit:
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Small, bright red spherical drupe. Often in clusters. Fruit
is produced year round. |
Bark:
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Smooth, gray-brown bark. |
Habitat:
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This sun loving tree usually grows in moist soils, but
established plants can tolerate most droughts. The tree proliferates in
disturbed habitats. |
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