Macadamia tree exhibiting hybrid traits

[baytropes]

My macadamia tree has spiny leaves like a Tetraphylla. But has 3 leaves per whorl like an Integrifolia. The flowers seem to be whitish. They haven’t developed fully yet.

I got this 10 ft 30 gallontree from a SoCal nursery. I was told that it’s an unknown cultivar. They were not even if it’s was grafted or a seedling. Has anyone seen a Macadamia tree with these characteristics.

[cassowary]

My macadamia tree has spiny leaves like a Tetraphylla. But has 3 leaves per whorl like an Integrifolia. The flowers seem to be whitish. They haven’t developed fully yet.

I got this 10 ft 30 gallontree from a SoCal nursery. I was told that it’s an unknown cultivar. They were not even if it’s was grafted or a seedling. Has anyone seen a Macadamia tree with these characteristics.

If you show the new leafs emergin and the nut then it will be a lot easier since the two common species are not easily indestinguishable in my opinion.

The mature m. integrifolia I had fruit of had white flowers and similar leaf size.
M. tetraphylla tends to have pinkish flowers.
Enviromental factors also determine leaf size.

[baytropes]

I also have an integrifolia in a pot.  Seems to have smooth leaves in 3 leaf whorls. But the unknown variety has spiky leaves. Isn’t tetraphylla the spiky 4 leaf whorled species ? I thought that’s how it got it’s scientific name.

[NateTheGreat]

It's not that simple. Integrifolia can have 4, and tetraphylla can have 3. Also young integrifolias are serrated. If you look at photos of integrifolia you'll see plenty with setrrated margins, and if you look at photos of tetraphylla you'll see plenty with smooth/entire margins. Same thing with flower color. There are hybrids as well. I would like to learn how to properly distinguish the two, maybe the nut is the only sure way? I've read most trees in CA are integrifolia, and I've also read they're tetraphylla.

Here's a pdf with some info. If the link doesn't work it's called Brief Intro to Macads https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjV0KCF_ervAhXTG80KHYpjB68QFjAKegQIAxAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwildmacadamias.wpengine.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F01%2FBrief-Intro-to-Macads.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2KNJGNcCluq1Ya8seEt2s2

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/346223-Macadamia-tetraphylla/browse_photos?quality_grade=any

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/287245-Macadamia-integrifolia/browse_photos?quality_grade=any

[baytropes]

It's not that simple. Integrifolia can have 4, and tetraphylla can have 3. Also young integrifolias are serrated. If you look at photos of integrifolia you'll see plenty with setrrated margins, and if you look at photos of tetraphylla you'll see plenty with smooth/entire margins. Same thing with flower color. There are hybrids as well. I would like to learn how to properly distinguish the two, maybe the nut is the only sure way? I've read most trees in CA are integrifolia, and I've also read they're tetraphylla.

Here's a pdf with some info. If the link doesn't work it's called Brief Intro to Macads https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjV0KCF_ervAhXTG80KHYpjB68QFjAKegQIAxAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwildmacadamias.wpengine.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F01%2FBrief-Intro-to-Macads.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2KNJGNcCluq1Ya8seEt2s2

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/346223-Macadamia-tetraphylla/browse_photos?quality_grade=any

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/287245-Macadamia-integrifolia/browse_photos?quality_grade=any

This is great info. I didn't know that juvenile integrifolias also have serrated leaves. My Integrifolia in the pot is an air-layer from a mature nut producing tree and so it has smooth edges. Do you have a Macadamia tree here in the Bay Area ? I have this unknown variety in the ground and a Cate seedling and an air-layered Arkin Papershell in pots.

[cassowary]

also got small m. integ. with serrated leafs. And the mature m. integ I got fruit of had serrated leafs and smooth seeds. white flowers.

[NateTheGreat]

No I don't have any. I've been thinking about starting some seeds one of these days. I was looking for tetraphylla seeds, but couldnt figure out which parent trees were tetraphylla.