Brunfelsia densifolia

Brunfelsia densifolia

Brunfelsia densifolia is a species of the genus Brunfelsia Brunfelsia section. The plants are endemic to Puerto Rico.

Description

Brunfelsia densifolia is a 6 to 10 m tall tree whose trunk can reach a diameter of 13 cm. The plants are completely hairless. The branches are rod- shaped, slender and densely covered with leaves. These are coriaceous, linear - oblong to linear - lanceolate or linear shaped vice versa. They are 5-10 cm long and 5-10 mm wide, towards the front they are pointed or blunt, the base is long tapered. The top of the leaves is glossy, the numerous veins are nearly parallel. The petioles are 4-9 mm long.

The flowers appear singly and terminally. The flower stalk is long up to 1 cm. The calyx is narrow bell- shaped and 6-7 mm long. He is covered with short, rounded and ciliated at the tip of calyx lobes. The crown is at first white, later yellowish but. The very slender corolla tube has a length of 10 to 15 cm. The coronary band is covered with short, rounded or blunt Corolla lobe. Of the four dust leaves has a pair greatly reduced dust bag, which are described as either sterile or only small amounts of pollen producing. All four anthers reach the opening of the corolla tube. The stamens are each attached to the same height of the corolla tube. The scar extends beyond the opening of the corolla tube also.

The fruit has a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 cm, it is egg-shaped to spherical. First, it is green, turns to yellow when ripe and is late jumping up. The seeds are elliptical, brown and about 4 mm long.

Occurrence

Brunfelsia densifolia is endemic in the western part of Puerto Rico. The nature there is growing on mountain slopes at altitudes between 600 and 800 m on snake stone floors.

Swell

• Henri Alain Liogier: Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and adjancent Islands, Spermatophyta, Volume IV: Melastomataceae to Lentibulariaceae. Universidad de Puerto Rico, 1995, ISBN 0-8477-2337-2.
• Timothy C. Plowman ( Author), Sandra Knapp, JR Press ( ed.): A revision of the South American species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae ). Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, August 1998, ISBN 978-9998104693. ( Fieldiana Botany, New Series, No. 39).