Neea buxifolia (Hook.f.) Heimerl
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Nyctaginaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Shrub 1-3 m tall, many-branched from base, the branches arched; twigs cylindrical, glabrescent, whitish gray, in cross section showing xylem with internal strands of phloem. Shoots ferruginous- tomentulose. Leaves congested on short, lateral shoots; blades 0.5-2.5 x 0.3-0.9 cm, oblanceolate to spatulate, chartaceous to coriaceous, puberulent, the apex rounded, the base cuneate, the margins entire, slightly revolute; petioles slender, 0.5-1 mm long. Flowers sessile, 1 or 2 at end of short cymes; the axes 5-6 mm long, ferruginous-puberulent. Staminate perianth 3.5-4 mm long, yellowish, the stamens 6-8; pistillate perianth ca. 3 mm long, constricted below the apex. Anthocarp fleshy, ellipsoidglobose, ca. 5 mm long, smooth, glabrescent, shiny red, crowned by the perianth teeth.
Distribution and Ecology - An uncommon shrub of dry to moist forests. Cruz Bay Quarter along trail to Margaret Hill (A2305) and Maria Bluff area (A4706), Reef Bay Quarter at Europa Bay (A4143). Also on St. Thomas and Guana Island; Puerto Rico, including Culebra.