Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: Autograph Tree

Family: Clusiaceae (Garcinia family)

Distribution: Caribbean

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Life form: Tropical Tree

Comments: This tree gets its name from the thick leaves that were once used for writing messages. If the leaf is scratched with a sharp object, it will remove the dark green outer layer and reveal a light inner layer. The message will remain even after the leaf has turned brown. You will often see round, pod-like fruits that open to reveal a beautiful star shape.