Psychotria domingensis Jacq.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Rubiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Psychotria domingensis Jacq.

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub 1-2 m tall, glabrous; twigs nearly cylindrical, sometimes constricted below the nodes. Leaves opposite; blades 6.5-17 x 3.4-7 cm, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, chartaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base acute to obtuse, the margins entire; petioles 1-2 cm long, slender; stipules early deciduous. Flowers 5-merous, nearly sessile, usually in groups of 3 on corymboid terminal inflorescence; axes sometimes reddish-tinged. Hypanthium 1-1.5 mm long, cup-shaped, glabrous, green; calyx 1.5-2 mm long, the sepals lanceolate, 0.5-0.6 mm long; corolla white, trumpetshaped, the tube 9-10 mm long, the lobes unequal, nearly lanceolate, 4-5 mm long; stamens 5, included, the anthers oblong, ca. 3 mm long; style stout. Drupe compressed-subglobose, 5-6 mm long, black; pyrenes 2, furrowed.

  • Discussion

    Psychotria westii DC, Prodr. 4: 516. 1830. Psychotria pavetta Sw., Prodr. 45. 1788. Palicourea pavetta (Sw.) D C , Prodr. 4: 525. 1830

  • Distribution

    An occasional shrub of open, disturbed, moist areas or in moist secondary forests. Adrian Ruins (A2461), Bordeaux Mountain (A2103). Also on St. Croix and St. Thomas; Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the Lesser Antilles.

    West Indies| Puerto Rico South America| West Indies| Jamaica South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|