Cuban Raintree (Brunfelsia nitida)
Description
Brunfelsia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae, the nightshades. There are about 50 species described. Linnaeus named the genus for the early German herbalist Otto Brunfels (1488-1534). Common names for the genus include raintree. These are neotropical shrubs and small trees. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, and usually oval in shape. The large, tubular flowers have five broad petals. Typical habitat for wild species is light woodland and thickets. Species in cultivation include Brunfelsia americana and Brunfelsia pauciflora. Brunfelsia australis is actively promoted by growers for its tricolored blooms and drought resistance. Like many nightshades, some members of this genus contain toxic and medicinal alkaloids. The plants are known to be poisonous to domestic animals such as cats, dogs, and horses due to their brunfelsamidine content. Toxicity in dogs manifests with strychnine-like gastrointestinal, neurological and cardiac symptoms. Brunfelsia is a genus of the tribe Petunieae, which also includes Petunia. This placement is supported by molecular data.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Solanales
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Family: Solanaceae
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Genus: Brunfelsia
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