Rhamnus sphaerosperma Sw. var. sphaerosperma
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Authority
Johnston, Marshall C. & Johnston, Laverne A. 1978. Rhamnus. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 20: 1-96. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Rhamnaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Swartz sn, Jamaica (holotype, BM; isotypes, G, S).
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Synonyms
Ceanothus sphaerocarpa DC., Frangula sphaerocarpa Griseb.
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Description
Description - Shrub or small tree 6.0-10.0(-12.0) m, stem longitudinally striated and sparsely to moderately pubescent becoming glabrous with age, hairs yellowish brown and up to 0.5 mm long. Stipules 1.0-2.0 mm long tapering from base to apex, dark pubescent, persistent. Petioles moderately pubescent with hairs like stem. Leaf-blades thin, 2.7-11.7(-16.0) cm long (average - ca 7.8 cm) and (1.4-)2.l-6.2(-7.3) cm wide (average - ca 3.5 cm) (averaging longer and wider in Jamaica than in Cuba), mostly elliptic but also obovate-elliptic; base mostly rounded but also cuneate; apex acuminate; margin mostly slightly revolute but also plane, glandular-crenate; above typically glabrous or with a few scattered hairs and dark to yellow green; beneath pubescent with hairs appressed or curved and 0.2-0.3 mm long, yellowish; veins above with sparse to moderate pubescence, secondary veins with somewhat less pubescence than midrib, beneath with moderate pubescence principally along lateral margin, above and beneath not conspicuous; secondary veins (5-)6-8(-10) pairs. Inflorescence a dichasium with (4-)7-25(-40) flowers (averaging more in Jamaica than in Cuba); primary peduncles 1.0-20.0 mm long apparently increasing with age, secondary peduncles 1.5-6.0 mm long, tertiary peduncles ca 2.0 mm long; pedicels 0.5-3.0 mm long apparently increasing with age; flowers greenish; floral cup 1.0-1.5 mm long, 1.5-2.25 mm broad; sepals deltoid 1.0-2.0 mm long, 1.0-1.25 mm wide; all external floral parts including stalks pubescent; petals clawed and notched, ca 1.0 mm long and almost invariably surpassing midpoint of sepals; style tapering somewhat from base to apex, stigma minutely trilobate. Fruits with primary peduncles 2.0-14.0 mm long and secondary peduncles 1.5-5.0 mm long; pedicels 2.0-4.0 mm long; drupes 2.55.5 mm in diam, green at first darkening later, glabrous, 3-seeded.
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Common Names
Yellow santa
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Distribution
In southern Cuba and in Jamaica. In wooded (mostly), forested, or brushy areas, often at the edge; on slopes (mostly) or in mined out pits, often on limestone; at 450-2000 m alt (mostly 700 m). Flowering February, March, and April; fruiting beginning in May and continuing through October.
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