Narratives Details:
Title:
Genipa americana L.
Genipa americana L.
Authors:
Nathaniel Lord Britton, Frances W. Horne
Nathaniel Lord Britton, Frances W. Horne
Scientific Name:
Genipa americana L.
Genipa americana L.
Description:
Flora Borinqueña Genipa americana Jagua Genipa Family Rubiaceae Madder Family Genipa americana Linnaeus, Systema Vegetabilium, edition 10, 931. 1759. A large-leaved tree, with, valuable wood and edible fruit, distributed in the West Indies from Cuba to the Virgin Islands, and from Guadaloupe to Trinidad, and of wide range in continental Tropical America. It grows in Porto Rico in woodlands, on plains and on hillsides, in moist and wet districts, ascending to the higher elevations, and also inhabits the island Vieques. The tough, strong, elastic wood is used for hoops, boxes and in construction. Genipa (the name Brazilian) was established a genus by Linnaeus in 1759, the species here illustrated and described, typical, and the only one living in Porto Rico; it is composed of a few species of Tropical American trees. Their leaves are large, opposite, stipulate, without teeth. The clustered, or sometimes solitary flowers are large, regular, white, or yellow; the bell-shaped, or top-shaped tube of the calyx is attached to the ovary, its limb short, sometimes lobed; the salverform corolla has 5 or 6 spreading, twisted lobes; the 5 or 6 stalkless stamens are borne near the upper end of the calyx-tube; the pistil has a 1-celled, or 2-oelled ovary, containing many ovules, a short style and a spindle-shaped stigma. The large, berry-like fruit, containing many large, flat seeds, falls to the ground without opening. Genipa americana (American) may become about 20 meters high, but is usually smaller, its gray bark smooth, its twigs stout. The obovate or oblong, usually pointed leaves are from 10 to 35 centimeters long; they are smooth, or hairy, and borne on stout, short stalks; the short-stalked flowers are few together, or solitary; the calyx is 6 or 8 millimeters long; its margin not lobed; the white corolla, fading yellow, is 2 or 3 centimeters broad, with a short tube and blunt lobes. The ellipsoid or nearly globular fruit, is brown, smooth, [pulpy], 6 or 7 centimeters in diameter.
Flora Borinqueña Genipa americana Jagua Genipa Family Rubiaceae Madder Family Genipa americana Linnaeus, Systema Vegetabilium, edition 10, 931. 1759. A large-leaved tree, with, valuable wood and edible fruit, distributed in the West Indies from Cuba to the Virgin Islands, and from Guadaloupe to Trinidad, and of wide range in continental Tropical America. It grows in Porto Rico in woodlands, on plains and on hillsides, in moist and wet districts, ascending to the higher elevations, and also inhabits the island Vieques. The tough, strong, elastic wood is used for hoops, boxes and in construction. Genipa (the name Brazilian) was established a genus by Linnaeus in 1759, the species here illustrated and described, typical, and the only one living in Porto Rico; it is composed of a few species of Tropical American trees. Their leaves are large, opposite, stipulate, without teeth. The clustered, or sometimes solitary flowers are large, regular, white, or yellow; the bell-shaped, or top-shaped tube of the calyx is attached to the ovary, its limb short, sometimes lobed; the salverform corolla has 5 or 6 spreading, twisted lobes; the 5 or 6 stalkless stamens are borne near the upper end of the calyx-tube; the pistil has a 1-celled, or 2-oelled ovary, containing many ovules, a short style and a spindle-shaped stigma. The large, berry-like fruit, containing many large, flat seeds, falls to the ground without opening. Genipa americana (American) may become about 20 meters high, but is usually smaller, its gray bark smooth, its twigs stout. The obovate or oblong, usually pointed leaves are from 10 to 35 centimeters long; they are smooth, or hairy, and borne on stout, short stalks; the short-stalked flowers are few together, or solitary; the calyx is 6 or 8 millimeters long; its margin not lobed; the white corolla, fading yellow, is 2 or 3 centimeters broad, with a short tube and blunt lobes. The ellipsoid or nearly globular fruit, is brown, smooth, [pulpy], 6 or 7 centimeters in diameter.
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