Tearshrub (Vallesia antillana)
Description
Vallesia antillana grows as shrub up to 4 meters in height with a small trunk to 10 cm in diameter. The bark is yellowish gray with fissures. The leaves are arranged alternately, to 10 cm long and 4 cm wide, usually smaller. The leaves have an acuminate leaf apex and an entire margin. The actinomorphic flowers are in dichotomous cymes. The calyx has 5 unfused, greenish sepals. The corolla has 5 white petals that are fused forming a tube with the lobes overlapping to one side forming a pinwheel shape. There are 5 stamens fused to the corolla tube. The ovary is superior and has two locules and many ovules. The fruit is a berry that turns white at maturity.
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: Gentianales
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Family: Apocynaceae
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Genus: Vallesia
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