Flora of Dominica, Part 2 - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 77 RUBIACEAE 189
s.n., Cooper 54, 54A, Ramage s.n.). Flowers December-
March.
Howard (1989, 6:412) said that Greater Antillean materials
previously identified with this species are best assigned to
Exostema ellipticum Grisebach.
A decoction is used as an emetic and purgative by Caribs and
the wood for paddles (Hodge and Taylor, 1957:611).
Faramea Aublet
Faramea occidental&
Furumeu occidentulis (Linnaeus) A. Richard. 1829:96; 1834: 176.-
Steyermark, 1967:384.
Ixoru occidentulk Linnaeus, 1759a:893.
Line rod, caf6 marron.
Small tree to 8 m; stipule with awn longer than tube;
inflorescence terminal, often several from the same node;
corollas elongate, purple in bud, pinkish white and fragrant at
anthesis, promptly deciduous; berries spherical, dark purple to
black.
Neotropics; occasional to common in Dominica in wet
interior, 100-700 m: La Chaudiere (Hodge 3594), La Plaine
area (Ernst 1363, Nicolson 4125), Pont Casse area (Ernst 1801,
Howard 11759, Lloyd 755, Wilbur 8286, 8319), east of
Salisbury (Stern & Wasshausen 2585, Webster 13555),
Sylvania (Hodge 688, 689, 690, 1153), Syndicate (Hodge
2616, Wasshausen & Ayensu 350, Whitefoord 3539, 3549),
sine loc. (Imray 247).
Genipa Linnaeus
Genipa amencana
Genipu umericuM Linnaeus. 1759a:931.--Standley in North Amer. Fl.. 1921,
32:156.--Little & Wadsworth, 1964512, pl. 243.
Genip, alasibikai (by Carib men), saua (by Carib women).
Medium tree; leaves obovate-oblanceolate, glossy, clustered
on branch ends; stipules acute, deciduous; corolla pale yellow,
5-lobed, -2 cm long and 3 cm across; style exserted; fruits -6
cm long, brown, thick-walled, many-seeded.
Neotropics; only plants known to me in Dominica are just
south of Portsmouth: by highway 3 miles [5 km] south of
Portsmouth (Nicolson 4190), bottom of road to Hungry Hill
(Whitefoord 5910).
Said not to occur on Dominica by Beard (1944:65). Not
known to foresters, perhaps introduced by Caribs. Hodge and
Taylor (1957:611) discussed at length how the Caribs use it as
source of blue skin stain and an ingredient in treating yaws.
Geophila D. Don, nom. cons.
Geophila repens
Geophilu repens (Linnaeus) Johnston, 1949a:281 .-Steyermark, 1972:395.
Rondeletia repens h aws, 1759a:928.
Psychotriu lurbuceu Jaquin, 1760.16.
Geophilu herbucea (Jacquin) Schumann in Engler & Prantl, 1891, IV(4):119.
Petit caapi tourtelle.
Creeping herb with cordate leaves, white flowers, and red
berries.
Neotropics; occasional ground cover or weed of damp,
disturbed mas in lowlands of Dominica: Carib Reserve (Stehle
6423), Clarke Hall (Ernst 1581, Nicolson 2003, Stern &
Wasshausen 2404).
A ritual bath is made from this by Caribs (Hodge and Taylor,
1957:612).
An Asiatic element, illustrated by Rheede (1690:10, pl. 21),
was cited in the original protologues of both Rondeletia repens
Linnaeus and Psychotria herbucea Jacquin, both apparently
typified on neotropical elements. See Nicolson et al.
(1988:221) for synonymy and a summary. Howard (1989,
6416) expressed reservations.
Gonzalagunia Ruiz & Pavon, nom. cons.
Gonzalagunia hirsuta
Gonzuluguniu hirsutu (Jacquin) Schumann in Martius, 1889, 6(6):291.-
Howard, 1973b:456.
Justiciu hirsutu Jaquin, 1760:ll.
Lygisiwn spicutwn Lamarck, 1792, Tabl., 1 :286.
Gonzuluguniu spicutu (Lamarck) Gomez de la Man, 1894:289.-Steyermark,
1972313.
DUggeM spicutu (Lamarck) Standley. 1916b:126; in North Amer. Fl., 1921,
32:135.
Bois cabrit.
Herbaceous shrub to 4 m; stipules lanceolate to linear;
inflorescence terminal, arching, secund; calyx lobes 4(15),
linear; corolla white; fruits white, turning purple, dicoccous.
Hispaniola to northern South America; a common weed in
Dominica in disturbed and wet areas: Clarke Hall (Ernst 1975,
Stern & Wasshausen 2407, Wilbur 7363), Freshwater Lake area
(Chambers 2670, Lloyd 195, Ernst 1722, Smith 10249), Grand
Bay (Wilbur 8023), Lisdara (Hodge 681,2341), Londonderry
(Chambers 251 7), Melville Hall (Hodge 682), Pont Casse area
(Ernst I018), Nicolson 1848, Skog 1572, Webster 13383,
Wilbur 7535, 7544), Portsmouth (Ernst 1055), S ylvania
(Cooper 25), Syndicate (Whitefoord 3529), sine loc. (Imray
244, Cooley 8711).
On 20 May 1977 (Syndicate Estate) I noted flowering
specimens at 580 m to be of two kinds, with style exserted and
stamens in throat or vice versa.
Guettarda Linnaeus
Flowers sessile and secund.
1. Leaves oblong-obovate, to 3 cm long; inflorescence
3-6-flowered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G. odorata