Brazilian
Peppertree - Schinus terebinthifolius
Family: Anacardiaceae

Description
Schinus terebinthifolius or Brazilian Peppertree grows as either
a tree or shrub reaching heights up to 30 feet. The easiest way to find
this tree is to look for the rip red fruits. Leaves are composed of from
3 to 13 finely toothed leaflets from 1 to 2 inches long. Crush the leaves
in your hand and smell them. They have an aromatic property to them, some
people claiming they smell like turpentine.
Interesting facts
Brazilian Peppertree is a native plant of South America (Argentina, Paraguay
and Brazil) that was introduced to the United states in the ornamental
plant trade, in the 1840s. This plant does not handel cold well, and is
thus restricted in the US to Florida, Texas, California and Hawaii.
This tree is in the genus Schinus which comes from the Greek
word that refers to a mastic-tree (plant with resinous sap), of which
this plant resembles. Its also note able to mention that this plant is
in the same family as poison Ivy, Sumacs, and Mangos, of which also have
resinous sap, some species of which are poisonous.
Links to more information
-
Plant Information -
Article from UF IFAS by David Hall and Vernon Vandiver
-
Plant Management - Article
about Control techniques from UF IFAS
-
Species
account - Everything you want to know about this tree including
references to more information. This article is somewhat dry but all
the information is there.

For more info Contact Rob Nelson
VIDEO
|