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Mt. Atlas Mastic Tree
For years I thought this tree at our seasonal pond, was a Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia). Finally, I decided to look more closely into its identity. A Brazilian pepper is, of course, one of the topmost invasive species, mostly where there is plenty of water, like Florida and Texas. But it has made its way to a few parts of California. Locally, on the Calflora website, UC Davis identified a Brazilian pepper in northwest Vacaville.
The Brazilian peppers leaves, bark and peppers contain Monoterpenes, other similar chemicals and Urushiol. Sitting under that tree can cause respiratory congestion, chest pains, sneezing and flu-like symptoms. Touching the plant can cause skin irritations like poison oak, ivy, or poison sumac. The leaves will also give off a turpentine smell when crushed.
My kids played near this tree at their fort and trampoline for years without problems. We have also cut back young trees that have spread, burned them in our burn piles and none of us have ever experienced any medical complications. So, what could this tree be?
My neighbor, who has lived here for 55 years, told me that this used to be the only tree like it for miles around. He did say that goats used to graze this land and would eat all the pepper berries they could get. That would have helped keep the tree more contained. We moved here over 20 years ago. The goats no longer are here to eat, just occasional birds eat the peppers.
The Brazilian pepper and Mt. Atlas Mastic tree have nearly the same leaf structure and bark. It is difficult to tell them apart.
The Brazilian Pepper fruit/peppers stay red. The Mastic trees' berries turn from red to blue when fully ripe. The Brazilian Pepper typically has 5-7 leaflets, while the Mastic has 9-11 leaflets.
Since there are NO toxic effects from touching any parts of this mystery tree or burning the wood, and the berries DO turn red to blue, we can safely assume its identity is a Mt. Atlas Mastic tree. It is good that I do not have an invasive Brazilian pepper, but Mt. Atlas Mastic trees are also considered invasive!
Mt. Atlas Mastic trees were brought to California as a rootstock for Pistacia vera, the Pistachio tree. The Mastic tree was also introduced here as an ornamental, shade-bearing, drought-tolerant landscape tree. Sadly, because of the berries, this tree escaped cultivation to become invasive also.
We have lived here for over 20 years now, and have gone from having the ONLY TREE to now seeing hundreds along roadsides, fence lines and under power lines. How in the world did this tree spread like this? Answer: Meet the European Starling!
European Starling- Matt Davis/Macaulay Library, Cornell Labs
The European Starling was brought to Central Park in New York City in 1890. Forty-mated pairs of these birds were released. Their population has increased to an estimated 200 million nationwide. They are aggressive and compete with native birds for nesting sites. The Starlings also cause an estimated 800 million dollars damage to agricultural crops. Lastly, their droppings spread infectious diseases to people and livestock. Starlings have been named as the top 100 worst invaders in the world.
In the fall to early winter, we have flocks of Starlings who fly into this tree by the hundreds and strip as many berries as they can eat. They swoop away just as suddenly as they came in. These birds stop on fences, powerlines, and in taller trees. In a year or two, we can see where the Starlings have stopped and dropped some of the berries. More and more seedlings are popping up everywhere. It's rather funny that my invasive tree is being spread for miles by an invasive bird!
On a happier note, have you ever seen huge flocks of Starlings flying together? These birds gather in huge flocks in the fall and early winter. They fly as a “shapeshifting ball” that moves in waves up and down, shifting back and around. It's a phenomenon called “murmuration”. We have amazing Starling murmurations here in the States to see, but Europe, and especially the UK, really has the best murmuration shows.
Sources:
Brazilian Pepper, Schinus terebinthifolia-
USDA, National Invasive Species Database
Calflora-invasive plants in California
Global Invasive Species Database: Cuda, J. P., A. P. Ferriter, V. Manrique, and J.C. Medal, (Editors) 2006. J.P. Cuda, Brazilian Peppertree Task Force Chair. Interagency Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolius) Management Plan for Florida 2nd Edition.
Missouri Botanical Garden.org
Cal-ipc.org
Sources:
Mt. Atlas Mastic, Pistacia atlantica-
Calflora- observation search
University of Arizona Campus Arboretum
iNaturalist
Sources:
European Starling-
Cornell Labs -All about Birds
University of Nebraska-European Starlings
Birdfact- Starling murmurations
Invasive Species List of California
