We saw this tree in Meeks Park a few weeks ago, and Seek told us that it is Buffalo Nut.  Never heard of it, so I had to look it up.

 

Here is what Wikipedia says about it:  Pyrularia pubera, or Buffalo nut is a shrub in the Sandalwood family and grows in the eastern US from New York to Alabama, found mostly in the Appalachian mountains.  Here's the interesting thing:  it grows up to 12 feet, mostly in the shade of other trees.  You can see that here with white oaks.  It is a parasitic plant, specifically a hemiparasite which while still photosynthetic, will also parasitize the roots of other plants around it.  Hmmm. Pretty interesting, huh?

 

Ever since we first noticed it, we look for it every time we go there.  There are so many interesting plants in the Park.  There's always something to see.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!