I need help identifying this tree

[Jessi]

I recently became very interested in bonsai trees, and got this bonsai as a birthday gift, but I have no clue what type it is, can anyone help me?

Below are some links for photos of it:

[url]https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d125/010Sara010/PC190303.jpg[/url]

[url]https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d125/010Sara010/bonsaileaf.jpg[/url]

And where is the best place to put it? I'm a begginner, so any other tips and comments are much appreciated.

[Gnome]

Jessi,

Hello and welcome to bonsai. You are correct to make every effort to identify your tree. Without a proper identification caring for it properly will be almost impossible. Try this as a tentative ID.

[url=https://toptropicals.com/pics/garden/06/4/4990.jpg]Serissa[/url]

In the mean time do not water if the soil is still wet. Wait until it is barely moist before watering again. More later once you identify it.

Norm

[JoeLewko]

Jessi,
I am fairly certain this is a ficus, not sure what variety, they all look so similar. I say this because I own a ficus, and it looks similar to mine. go to google, and type in ficus, and see if any closely match yours. Some of the common types are Ficus Benjamina, and Ficus Retusa (which I think it is).
Joe

[Sharp]

It really doesn't look like a serissa to me. Does it have any flowers?

But I'm not sure its a ficus either. Alot of it really seems to be a fukien. ALthough I always say that lol.

[Gnome]

Joe & Sharp,

Thanks for the help with this one, always good to get other perspectives.

Joe, look to the center left of the second picture. I see some buds that are arranged in an opposite fashion. I grow F. benjimina and they grow in an alternating pattern.

Sharp, yeah you do seem to like your Fukiens But where are the tri-lobed leaf tips that you have taught me to look for?

Again, thanks to you both for participating and do we have any more likely candidates?

Norm

[Jessi]

It doesn't have any flowers, thankyou for the suggestions though! It has narrowed my search down

[Sharp]

Hrm well, the leaves and over all body really reminds me of ficus. But the reason I see fukien (although the leaves don't match that assessment) is the stems.

[url=https://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=whoknows4rq.jpg][img]https://img262.imageshack.us/img262/584/whoknows4rq.th.jpg[/img][/url]


Notice where I circled. Ficus doesn't grow in tufts like that do they?



So maybe a privet or myrtle? Stumped here.



Jessi, can we get a close up of the bark near the base of the trunk? Is it cracked or smooth?

[ynot]

Ficus doesn't grow in tufts like that do they?

Nope, As Gnome pointed out Ficus grow leaves in an alternate pattern around the branch.

Looking just to the left of your circle at the positioning of the buds breaking compared to the leaves farther back this seems to have opposite leaves [One pair horizontal, The next pair vertical.]

Anybody else see that?

A Ligustrum [privet] is a possibility. Are the leaves about 1" in length or so?
[I would actually expect them to be a bit larger due to lighting issues, IE: The internode length of the new growth on the apex.]

The quest continues.....
ynot

[Jessi]

The leaves are 3-4 cm long, and here's a close up of the bark near the base of the trunk :

[url]https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d125/010Sara010/bonsaibark2.jpg[/url]

[JoeLewko]

on second thought, this does not appear to be a ficus. ( and I don't think that's the bark of one either ) I'm stumped here, but I'll try to do some research, and see what I come up with.

[milifestyle]

I would suggest the Moreton bay Fig ( Ficus macrophylla ) or possibly but less likely a form of Elaeagnus sp.

Eric.