Identifying Characteristics
| Size/Form: | Titi is a small, shrubby, tardily deciduous tree that may reach 25' to 35' in height. It has crooked stems and a short trunk that divides, just above the ground, to form several, arching limbs and a wide-spreading, rounded crown. |
| Leaves: | The leaves are alternately to spirally arranged and grow in clusters near the ends of branches. Leaves are elliptical or oblong to obovate, from 1" to 4" long, leathery and dark green, with prominent veins. Leaf surfaces are smooth above and below and the margins are entire, to finely notched and curling under. The leaves taper at the base and often turn bright red and persist on the tree through the winter months. |
| Flowers: | The fragrant flowers are pinkish-white, in narrow racemes that dangle in clusters, whorled at the tips of last season's branches. |
| Fruit: | The fruit is a stalked, yellowish-brown, spherical to ovoid drupe-like capsule, about 1/8" in diameter, with a persistent calyx at the base and two, brownish seeds inside. The fruits mature in late summer. |
| Bark: | The bark on the titi tree is spongy and reddish-brown with flaky scales. The base of the tree has a whitish-pink hue. |
| Habitat: | Titi grows best in acid and alluvial soils, within river flood plains and along swamp edges, stream margins, low forested flatwoods and other shallow, wet sites. It is tolerant of long-term flooding. |