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Tours

1. Exotic Flora Tour

   This tour takes you on an hour-long loop through some of the most unique and prized tree specimens on the UCSB Campus.

   Stops

   1. Octopus Tree (Heptapleurum actinophyllum)

      Indigenous to the rainforests of eastern Australia, the Octopus Tree (Heptapleurum actinophyllum) has clustered leaves that can reach up to 24 inches in length. The small fleshy berries are a stunning magenta color. The tree gets its name from the arrangement of its fruits along a cluster linear branches, which have a striking resemblance to the tentacles of an octopus. Although this species is often grown as a houseplant, it rarely blooms under home conditions. Outdoors, it grows up to 45 feet tall with long branches arising from the base and most of the leaves clustered at the tips of branches. The appearance of an umbrella-like canopy gives it the alternate name umbrella tree. In the wild, its seeds sometimes germinate on a branch of another tree (which becomes a “host”), with the resulting plant (the “parasite”) producing roots that wind tightly around the host’s trunk, and eventually strangling it.
      
      Family: Araliaceae (Ginseng family)

      
      

   2. Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)

      The Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) is endemic to Norfolk Island, Australia. This tree has whorled branches and a symmetrical shape, hence its other common name of star pine. It is not a true pine, which belong to the genus Pinus in the family Pinaceae but instead is a member of the

      genus Araucaria, in the family Araucariaceae. As opposed to the linear needles of a pine, this tree can be recognized by its dense scale-like leaves. The tree is slow growing and can reach a height of 160–210 feet, although it will remain much smaller if kept indoors. Norfolk Island Pines produce straight vertical trunks and symmetrical branches, even when exposed to chronic and strong onshore winds that contort the trunks of most other tree species. Although the species is commonly referred to as the Norfolk Island pine, due to its captivating appearance, it is extensively cultivated in a variety of Mediterranean and humid subtropical climates as a decorative tree.
      
      

      Family: Araucariaceae (Araucarian family)

   3. Montezuma Cypress (Taxodium mucronatum)

      The Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) is a semi- evergreen or evergreen tree that is native to Guatemala, Mexico and the southernmost valleys of the Rio Grande in Texas. This large, needle-leaf aquatic tree produces roots that can grow in highly saturated soils, which are challenging for plants because they are often anaerobic (without oxygen). This species produces a tall, straight trunk and a broad crown of spreading branches and drooping twigs. At the base, the trunk is enlarged and exhibits distinct ridges, and in some cases, small "knees" — vertical appendages produced by the submerged roots — can be seen projecting above the surface of the water, where they may absorb atmospheric oxygen. Its name in Mexico, ahuehuete, means "old man of the water," a reference to its tendency to grow around rivers and lakes. It is the national tree of Mexico, where it is valued for its resistance to insect damage and decay. Several famous specimens exist in Mexico, including the "Big Tree of Tule" near Oaxaca, a giant that is 141 feet tall and 112 feet in circumference.
      
      

      Family: Taxodiaceae (Bald cypress family)

   4. Jurassic Park

      As you walk south along the west side of Webb Hall, turn left into the small courtyard and take a trip back in time to the age of dinosaurs and pre-historic plants. The “Jurassic Park” area is home to various plants whose ancestors were present during the Mesozoic era. From the time of the Tyrannosaurus rex to the present, these plants have evolved minimally over millions of years. Some of the species present include Bunya- Bunya (Araucaria bidwillii) from Queensland, Australia, and Rule araucaria (Araucaria rulei), an endangered species from New Caledonia. These two trees are closely related to the Norfolk Island Pine that you saw earlier in the tour, and you may recognize the similarly shaped foliage.
      
      

      Family: Araucariaceae (Araucarian family)

   5. Cork Oak (Quercus suber)

      The cork oak (Quercus suber) located at the southwest corner of Davidson Library is endemic to the western Mediterranean region of southern Europe and North Africa. Similar to our native coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), which is in the same genus, the cork oak is an evergreen species. This species is most notable for its bark, which is harvested for cork. Trees must be 30-40 years old before harvest can begin, and after that, bark can be re-harvested each time it grows back. Reportedly, it takes about eight years for a cork oak to regenerate a thick enough layer of bark to allow another harvest. Not only is cork a renewable resource when harvested correctly, but the harvesting and regrowth process actually sequesters carbon as well, since the trees must take in extra carbon to regenerate the bark.
      
      

      Family: Fagaceae (Oak, Chestnut, and Beech family)

      
      

   6. Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus)

      Eucalyptus globulus, commonly known as the southern blue gum or blue gum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, a family known for its production of essential oils. It is a tall, evergreen species endemic to southeastern Australia. Eucalyptus trees were brought from their native Australia to California in the 19th century and grown widely in the hopes of profiting from their use as timber, pulp and oil products. However, they eventually proved to be less than ideal for these purposes. For example, the wood had to be at least 75 years old before it was suitable for use as lumber. Additionally, the quality of California Eucalyptus oil products were found to be lower quality than Australian oils and never became profitable.
      
      

      In later years, eucalyptus was mainly used as an ornamental plant or as windbreaks for fields of crops. Despite being nonnative, the blue gum has become revered for its pleasing aesthetic and is even associated with Santa Barbara's image. The blue gum is the same type of eucalyptus found at Ellwood Nature Preserve in Goleta, where it serves as a roosting plant for monarch butterflies during their winter migration.
      
      

      Despite their popularity, eucalyptus trees present multiple ecological problems when planted outside of their native range. In California, blue gum eucalyptus can become invasive, spreading quickly in the presence of water, and its highly flammable bark contributes to intense fires. This highlights the need for careful consideration when introducing non-native plants.
      
      

      Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)

   7. Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica var. glauca)

      Native to the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco, the Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica var. glauca) was first introduced to Europe in 1845. The most distinguishing features of this tree are its blue-green foliage and dense, pyramidal crown. Cedar contains compounds that deter insects such as moths, so its wood is often used to build dressers and wooden trunks used to store woolen clothing (which moth larvae like to eat). This species provides a food source for sapsuckers, which are birds related to woodpeckers that drill small holes in the bark to find sap and insects. Look for the male (pollen producing) and female (seed producing) cones of this species, which are held vertically on the branches instead of hanging downwards.
      
      

      Family: Pinaceae (Pine family)

   8. Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)

      The dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is notable for its unusual habit of dropping its needles in the winter (most redwoods are evergreen). Its common name refers to the tree being "as ancient as the dawn of time." This genus was originally described from fossil specimens and thought to be extinct for millions of years until living specimens were found in China in 1944. In 1947, a botanical expedition to China brought back seeds and subsequently distributed living plants to various U.S. botanical gardens. Since its rediscovery, it has become widespread as an ornamental tree.
      
      

      Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress family)

      
      

   9. Coral Trees (Erythrina coralloides)

      The cockspur coral tree (Erythrina crista-galli), the naked coral tree (Erythrina coralloides), and the coast coral tree (Erythrina caffra) are some of the most stunning tree specimens on campus. The walkway near Coral Tree Café and the Student Affairs building (SAASB) is lined by these trees, along with other species of Erythrina. Native to South America, eastern Mexico, and South Africa respectively, these species are often used ornamentally. Their display of fiery red flowers can be seen from February to June. This is especially apparent for the naked coral tree which flowers before its leaves emerge. Producing flowers before the leaves emerge is an adaptation of many tree species that maximizes the visibility of flowers to pollinators, thereby increasing fruit and seed production. Coral trees are generally bird-pollinated, as could be guessed from the tubular red flowers common to many hummingbird-attracting plants. The seeds are bright red as well, and often used in jewelry.
      
      

      Family: Fabaceae (Legume family)