Common Names:  tough bully, ironwood and tough buckthorn

Latin Name:  Sideroxylon tenax formerly known as Bumelia tenax.

Family:  Sapotaceae

Habit:  An evergreen tree reaching 25 feet in height.

Leaves:  Alternate, evergreen, & oblanceolate. The upperleaf surface is smooth and the lower surface has rufous-silky hairs. The stems have long thorns.

Flowers:  Small white flowers appear in late spring to early summer.  Trees are monoecious have both male and female flowers on the same tree.

Distribution:  Dry hammocks, pinelands and scrub.

Landscape:  Grows in full sun to part shade with average moisture.

Wildlife use:  Bees & wasps use the flowers as a nectar source and when in bloom the tree is alight with them. Birds eat the fruit and use the foliage to nest in because of its protective thorns. Insect eating birds use this tree to feed off of the bees and wasps that are attracted to it.