The green fruit, an oval berry, resembles a small olive, as indicated by the botanical name. The resemblance persists when the fruit ripens to purple-black. Paradise Tree Simarouba glauca. A stately tree with a tall straight trunk, the Paradise Tree has been cultivated commercially in Central America and the West Indies for timber, for the oil content of its seeds, and for pharmacological compounds made from its roots. The pinnately compound leaves of dark glossy green have 10 to 14 alternate leathery leaflets, which make an attractive pattern.
New growth is bright red.
The fruits are a good food source for birds. Coral Bean Erythrina herbacea. Another tree with a distinctive leaf, this shrubby plant sometimes reaches a height of 15 feet. The Coral Bean is found from Texas to North Carolina into southern Florida. It prefers sunny locations and is seen in hammocks, pineland, and disturbed places.