Hirtella rugosa Pers.

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. Flora Borinqueña.

• Family

  Chrysobalanaceae

• Scientific Name

  Hirtella rugosa Thuill. ex Pers.

• Description

  Species Description - This small tree is endemic in the wet mountain forests of Porto Rico, frequent or occasional at middle and higher elevations. The Spanish name Teta de burra cimarron is recorded as sometimes used for it. Its shining, strongly veined, leaves are characteristic. For an account of the genus Hirtella we refer to our description of Hirtella triandra, also illustrated in this work. Hirtella rugosa (rugose, referring to the leaves) is about 6 meters high, or lower, the branches drooping, the twigs long-hairy. The broadly or narrowly ovate leaves, from 3 to 9 centimeters long, are pointed, strongly netted-veined, long-hairy on the veins beneath, rounded or somewhat heart-shaped at the base. The ovate, or elliptic, finely hairy lobes of the calyx are about 4 millimeters long; the elliptic to obovate, red, or pink petals are 5 or 6 millimeters long. The fruit is red, about 15 millimeters long.

• Discussion

  Icacillo Porto Rico Hirtella Plum Family Hirtella rugosa Persoon, Synopsis Plantarum 1: 250. 1805. Hirtella portoricensis Humboldt and Bonpland; Roemer & Schultes, Systema 5: 274. 1819.