Byrsonima cuneata (Turcz.) P.Wilson
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Authority
Britton, Nathaniel L. Flora Borinqueña.
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Family
Malpighiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Interesting by its white flowers, fading red, this small-leaved shrub, or small tree, known also as Guano-berry, is frequent or occasional at lower altitudes in Porto Rico, as also on the small islands Mona and Vieques. It is distributed throughout most of the West Indies, except Jamaica, and ranges north into Florida. We refer to our description of Byrsonima crassifolia for an account of the genus Byrsonima. Byrsonima cuneata (wedge-shaped, referring to the base of leaves), reaches a maximum height of about 8 meters, but is usually much lower, commonly a shrub 2.5 meters high, or less, with slender, short twigs. Its smooth, spatulate to obovate, short-stalked, rather thin leaves are from 1.5 to 5.5 centimeters long, shining on the upper surface, dull beneath, blunt, or short-pointed, the base narrowed or wedge-shaped. The flowers form terminal clusters about 6 centimeters long, or shorter, their stalks sometimes slightly hairy; the ovate, or oblong sepals are about 3 millimeters long, the larger petals from 5 to 7 millimeters long, at first white, turning red. The brown, globose fruits are from 9 to 12 millimeters in diameter.
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Discussion
Palo de doncella Candle-berry Malpighia Family Malpighia cuneata Turckzaninow, Bulletin de la Société Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou 31: 390. 1858. Byrsonima portoricensis Stahl, Estudios sobre el Flora de Puerto Rico 2: 143. 1884. Byrsonima cuneata P. Wilson, Bulletin of The New York Botanical Garden 8: 394. 1917.