Spigelia

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Loganiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Spigelia

  • Description

    Genus Description - Herbs or subshrubs; stems usually with longitudinal ridges; internal phloem present. Colleters present at base of leaves, bracts, and sepals. Leaves opposite or nearly whorled, sessile or nearly so, pinnately veined; stipules interpetiolar, membranaceous. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous, in terminal cymes; calyx lobes free or connate at base; corolla funnel-shaped; stamens included or exserted; ovary superior, 2-lobed, the style much longer than the ovary, the stigma simple or scarcely 2-lobed. Fruit a septicidal or loculicidal capsule, strongly bilobed at apex; seeds rugose or warty.

    Distribution and Ecology - A genus of 50 species, from tropical and subtropical America.