kman04 - you're awesome! It is a Gold Medallion Tree (Cassia leptophylla). I tried for quite some time to identify my own local example of this tree last night online, after spotting it once again while out wandering my neighborhood. but the closest I got was the Golden Shower Tree (C. fistula). That's close, but no cigar, as the seed pods are just that - cigar-like. They're cylindrical, and don't have the right coloring and textures as the pods of C. leptophylla, which are very rectangular in cross-section. I brought home 2 of the huge pods last night. They're about 15"-20" long, and rattle like a rattlesnake tail. They're falling off it this month, making a big mess. I first noticed the tree last year when it exploded in yellow blooms, especially as the car parked under it (and under it again last night and tonight) is a sporty little yellow car, the same shade of yellow. It looked really cool, as the plume of branches and flowers made a matched-color umbrella over the car. The tree is between the sidewalk and street - a city-planted 'street tree,' and I've not seen another anywhere around here. I'm in zone 10, and registering here on this site just now, reading the page about zones, I saw this snippet in the zone 10 info: "You can't grow apples, but you can grow tropical fruits, as well as Bougainvillea spectabilis (bougainvillea), ***Cassia fistula (golden shower)***, Eucalyptus citriodora (lemon eucalyptus), Ficus elastica (rubber plant), Ensete vetricosum (Abyssinian banana), and Roystonea regia (royal palm)." Emphasis (***) mine. Cassia (Cassias?) grow very well here, apparently, in west LA. There are 2 very tall E. citriodora's across the street from me, too. Also, leaves of Bougainvillea keep blowing into my yard, though I've not figured out from where yet. Anyway, checking Dave's Garden's site for the gold medallion tree, every pic is a solid match to my tree. I brought home a twig of 4 of its long, opposite leaves tonight, between 11 and 13 leaflet pairs per leaf, and they match the DG pics exactly. The long, dark, rectangular-cross-section seed pods are a deed match, too, and both match the pic submitted here by the OP. The flowers in the DG pics match my memory of them (not blooming currently). I'm sold! It's a gold medallion tree. Great work, kman04, and thanks to everyone for helping me and the OP figure it out. Oh, and just as a side note: the seed pod skins smell a great deal like fruit roll-ups. Strawberry, I think. I'm wondering about distilling essential oils from them now :) Here is a link that might be useful: Dave's Garden - Gold Medallion Tree (Cassia leptophylla)

Further info on this tree seems scarce, so plunged in myself. Found this on Yahoo Answers : Best AnswerVoter's Choice Chicken Fingeranswered4 year ago If enough is ingested it can be very dangerous. It is true that cattle can get sick from eating the leaves. The Chinese Tallow tree (Triadica sebifera), also known as a Popcorn tree, contains resins that are similar to Tung trees. The waxy coating on the green (immature) seeds is the only known non-toxic part of the plant. Nectar from the plant, contrary to the rest of the tree, produces a supposedly excellent honey. With a degree in Chemistry and a cattle rancher, I have done extensive research on this tree. It is listed as one of the top 10 most noxious species of plants in the world. In my sources below are some very informative websites for further information. Source: 1.) Me - Chemistry degree, cattle rancher 2.) http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/node/399 3.) http://www.invasive.org/species/subject.... 4.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_tal... Thats enough for me. Will try to persuade my neighbor to cut his tree down ( only 9 ft from my property line ) and then dig up the roots. Will do the work myself if he gives me the OK, - have all the tools. Also, I need something to keep me busy till the mango's go berserk ! ( smile )

Even without the leaf information Catalpa doesn't fit because it has round cross section pods, not angled. mplot - for future reference please could you include a scale in the picture? Just a pen or something will do. (Although the common practice of using US coins doesn't really help those of us who aren't familiar with them.) Do come back if you find any more mystery plants.

Jane, that is such a nice looking orchid) Jim sent me one and I love it. James, I have discovered the same thing over the years. I have lost a few trying while at the same time most just don't perform well. But I see a difference finally after trying all these years. I am thrilled at whet they are doing now. It feels good knowing they are safely growing now especially now that I can see through the pots. I was tired of guessing. Dbarron, same here. I feel you when you describe what you are doing. I am happy you are finding out what works best too. I am going to get more tree fern before it's hard to come buy. I have actually placed mt phals on a heat mat and it is working great thus far. I also checked out that site and I like it. It's my next go to and they have lots of selections. Thanks.