Cordia polycephala

Cordia polycephala
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Boraginales
Family:	Boraginaceae
Genus:	Cordia
Species:	C. polycephala
Binomial name
Cordia polycephala (Lam.) I.M.Johnst.

Cordia polycephala is a native plant of the Virgin Islands that is commonly found in open distributed areas. The flowers are sessile and the inflorences are simple or branched. Fruits are usually bright red and 3-4 millimeters in diameter, covered by an enlarged calyx.

Usage

The stems are known to be gathered from its habitat, which are marsh forests along creeks and rivers near the coast, and used as tooth cleaners. The fruits are known to be edible and they consist of a layer of pulpy, sweetish flesh surrounding a single seed.

Common name

Cordia polycephala is also known as black-sage.^[1]

Distribution

Cordia polycephala has a distribution in tropical forests of the Americas. It is native to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Lesser Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.

Conservation

This species can be found in protected areas throughout its range of the Lesser Antilles and South America. In Puerto Rico it is found in public forests, such as Maricao, Ro Abajo, and Cambalache. It is also found in the Virgin Islands National Park and Sage Mountain National Park on the island of Tortola.

References

• Acevedo-Rodríguez, P., & Angell, B. (2005). Flora of St. John. Bronx, NY: The New York Botanical Garden.