Tabebuia myrtifolia (Griseb.) Britton

  • Authority

    Gentry, Alwyn H. 1992. Bignoniaceae--part II (Tribe Tecomeae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 25: 1-370. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Bignoniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tabebuia myrtifolia (Griseb.) Britton

  • Description

    Species Description - A clinally varying species separable into two varieties mostly on the basis of density of the scales on the leaf undersurface.

  • Discussion

    This species is not very well differentiated from T. microphylla and the two overlap in distribution in the Cuban Oriente. I have distinguished them entirely on the basis of leaf shape—mostly oblong and at least twice as long as wide in T. myrtifolia versus broadly obovate to suborbicular in T. microphylla. The only Hispaniolan collections, from Beata Island, are somewhat intermediate, with most leaves oblong but some suborbicular. Here this species grows in the same area as typical T. microhylla, but on dog-tooth limestone, while T. microphylla occurs in flatter sandier areas.

  • Distribution

    Cuba, mostly on limestone. Perhaps also in eastern Hispaniola; 0-300 m elevation.

    Cuba South America| Dominican Republic South America|