Cordia dentata Poir.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Boraginaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cordia dentata Poir.

  • Description

    Species Description - Small tree or shrub to 10 m tall; branches sympodial, ending in an inflorescence. Leaf blades 4-12 X 4-7.5 cm, ovate, oval, or rounded, scabrous above, pubescent below, with tufts of hairs at vein angles, chartaceous, the apex obtuse or shortly acuminate and mucronate, the base rounded or obtuse, the margins dentatemucronate; petioles 1-2 cm long. Inflorescence a paniculate cyme with slightly curved branches. Calyx green, bell-shaped, 3-4 mm long, strigose, slightly striate; corolla white, funnel-shaped, 8-11 mm long; anthers and styles exserted, the styles 2, fused at base, the stigmas 4. Fruit 6-8 mm diam., ellipsoid, turning from green to white, fleshy, with sticky pulp.

  • Discussion

    Common names: flute boom, white manjack.

    Note: The name Varronia alba Jacq. (1760) [and its derivatives Cordia alba (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult. and Calyptracordia alba (Jacq.) Britton], once applied to this taxon, was based on discordant elements published by J. Commelijn (Horti. Med. Amstelod. 155, t. 80. 1697) and later typified by Johnston (J. Arnold Arbor. 21: 347. 1940) solely on Commelijn's plate. The plate has recently been identified as Trema micranthum (L.) Blume (Ulmaceae); as a result, Varronia alba becomes a synonym of Trema micranthum

  • Distribution

    Apparently introduced, found mostly along roadsides. Along road from Fish Bay to Coccoloba (A2816), Susannaberg (A3806). Also on St. Croix and St. Thomas; the West Indies, Central America, and northern South America.

    Saint John Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Central America| West Indies| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|