Bay Cedar (Suriana maritima)
Description
Suriana maritima is a monotypic genus of flowering plants containing only Suriana maritima,which is commonly known as bay cedar.It has a pantropical distribution and can be found on coasts in the New and Old World tropics. Bay cedar is an evergreen shrub or small tree, usually reaching a height of 1-2 m (3.3-6.6 ft) and sometimes reaching 6 m (20 ft).The leaves are alternate, simple, 1-6 cm (0.39-2.36 in) long and 0.6 cm (0.24 in) wide.The grey-green, succulent foliage yields an aroma similar to that of cedar when crushed, hence the common name.Its yellow flowers are solitary or in short.cymes among the leaves.Flowers have a diameter of 1.5 cm (0.59 in) when open, with petals 6-10 mm (0.24-0.39 in) long and sepals 7-10 mm (0.28-0.39 in) long. Bay cedar flowers throughout the year.After fertilisation, the flowers form clusters of five dry, hard drupes 3-4 mm (0.12-0.16 in) in diameter. The drupes are buoyant and can maintain the viability of the seeds during long periods in seawater, allowing the seeds to be dispersed by the ocean.
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: Fabales
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Family: Surianaceae
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Genus: Suriana
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