Calyptranthes zuzygium
Prodr., 79. 1788.
Illustrator:
Copyright:
Shrubs or trees to 12 m, glabrous throughout. Young stems terete to compressed; bark pale gray, smooth. Leaves: petiole stout, 2–4 mm, shallowly channeled; blade mostly elliptic to obovate, occasionally ovate, 4–6 (–7) × 2–4 cm, midvein convex adaxially, distinctly broader proximally, lateral-veins ca. 20 pairs, faint, ascending, marginal vein 1, 1–2 mm from margin, gently arching between lateral-veins and margin, or with second faint marginal vein parallel to margin, base cuneate, apex obtuse to abruptly blunt-tipped, adaxial surface lustrous. Peduncles slender, 2.5–4 cm (longer than fertile portion of panicle). Inflorescences 9–20-flowered, flowers mostly in triads; panicles in pairs and laxly flowered, or sometimes 1 panicle present by abortion; bracts and bracteoles early deciduous. Pedicels (0–) 1.5–5 mm. Flowers fragrant; bud obovoid, 3.5–4.5 mm; hypanthium broadly crateriform, shallowly cylindrical in fruit, 3.5–4.5 mm wide; calyptra 3.5–4.5 mm wide, apiculate; stamens 4 mm; style 5 mm. Berries bluish black, spheroid to oblate, 8–10 mm diam. Seed 5 mm diam.
Phenology: Flowering late spring–early summer.
Habitat: Subtropical hardwood hammocks.
Elevation: 0–10 m.
Distribution
Subtropical hardwood hammocks, Fla., West Indies
Discussion
Calyptranthes zuzygium is known from the Everglades and the Florida Keys, in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties; it is listed as endangered by the state of Florida.
Selected References
None.