Citharexylum spinosum L.

Citharexylum species are shrubs or small trees. Branches and branchlets 4-angular. Leaves decussate-opposite, simple, petioleate, exstipulate, entire or dentate, normally with pair of glands at leaf base. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, flowers pedicillate, Calyx 5 toothed, copular, Corolla white or yellow, infundibular or hypocrateriform, 5 lobed, rarely 4 or 6 lobed, Stamens 4, didynamous, rarely upto 6, anthers ovoid, Ovary 4 loculed with 1 ovule in each locule, Style terminal, Stigma 2 lobed. Fruit a drupe.

Citharexylum species flowers are bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects. Flowering/Fruiting: Almost throughout the year.

Seeds dispersed by barochory i.e., gravitational dispersal, anthropochory i.e., dispersal by humans.

Small tree about 20-30 ft tall. Bark brown fissured. Branches and branchlets 4-angular, ribbed. Leaves decussate-opposite, simple, lanceolate to elliptic-oblong, 6-20 x 4-7 cm across, base cuneate to acute, margin subentire, apex acuminate rarely variable, chartaceous, glabrous, lateral veins 4-6 on either side of the midvein, ascending, arcuate at the margins, distinct on both surfaces, petiole slender canaliculated, 1-3 cm long, exstipulate. Inflorescence racemes terminal and axillary and on branchlets, 5-20 cm long, Penducle 4 angular, 2-5 cm long, bracts elliptic linear, pubescent. Flowers zygomorphic, creamish white, fragrant. Calyx campanulate, 5 toothed with acute teeth, Corolla hypocrateriform, 5 lobed, creamish white, lobes unequal, obovate, obtuse, glabrous, Stamens 4, anthers yellowish, Ovary 4 loculed, Style stout, Stigma minutely 2 lobed, Fruit drupe.

Susceptible to insect pests.

Notes: Cultivated.

Cultivated as ornamental in gardens, Native of Central America.

Cultivated as a ornamental in gardens.