Neomezia cubensis (Radlk.) Votsch

  • Authority

    Ståhl, Bertil. 2010. Theophrastaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 105: 1-160. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Theophrastaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Neomezia cubensis (Radlk.) Votsch

  • Type

    Type. Cuba. Without locality, s.d., C. Wright 2916 (holotype, G; isotypes, BM, BREM, G, GH, GOET, HAC, K, MO. P, S).

  • Synonyms

    Theophrasta cubensis Radlk., Deherainia cubensis (Radlk.) Mez, Deherainia cubensis subsp. oligospinosa Lepper, Neomezia cubensis subsp. oligospinosa (Lepper) Borhidi, Theophrasta americana L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Dwarf shrub to ca. 0.3(-0.5) m tall, subprostrate or erect, unbranched or with 1 or 2 branches, stems brown, unarmed, young shoots densely puberulous. Leaves in 1-3 pseudowhorls towards summit of stems, blade narrowly obovate, sometimes obovate or oblanceolate, 6.5-22 x 3-6.5 cm, sometimes puberulous on lower side, midvein prominent beneath, somewhat impressed above, base truncate or shortly attenuate, apex obtuse, margins undulate, serrate, usually strongly so, teeth 15-30 per side, pungent, 2-6 mm long, both surfaces striate; subepidermal fiber bundles 5-25 cells thick; petiole 2-5(-10) mm long, 1.2-2.3 mm thick, densely puberulous, at least towards base, pedicels 4-6 mm long; bracts 0.5-1.5 mm long, puberulous. Calyx glandular-punctate, lobes ovate, 2.5-2.7 x 2-2.5 mm. Corolla tube ca. 2 mm long, lobes broadly ovate, ca. 4.5 x 5.5 mm. Filaments ca. 1.5 mm long, anthers ca. 2 mm long, apical appendages ca. 0.5 mm long, projection descending as a keel on adaxial side of anther. Ovary with 7-10 ovules in 2 or 3 rows, style 1.5-2 mm long. Fruits 0.8-3.5 cm diam. Seeds 0.8-1.2 cm broad.

    Distribution and Ecology - Restricted to W Cuba (Fig. 17) among limestone rocks in deciduous forests. Flowering Apr, Jun, and Aug; fruiting various months throughout year.

  • Common Names

    Contraguao cimarrón, chicharroncillo de paredón, contraguao de espinas

  • Distribution

    Isla de la Juventud Cuba South America| Matanzas Cuba South America| Piñar del Río Cuba South America| La Habana Cuba South America|