Trees [or large, sprawling shrubs], (3-)8-10(-15)m. Bark whitish gray. Stems erect [to prostrate]. Leaf blade deep green, shiny, obovate to oblanceolate, thick, leathery, base acute, apex rounded, notched, or blunt; oil cells possibly evident as pellucid dots, emitting strong aromatic odor when broken, causing sharp burning sensation on tongue when bitten. Inflorescences of 5-40 flowers, crowded toward end of stem. Flowers bisexual, protogynous; sepals green, imbricate, thick; petals basally connate, dark red to violet, lighter at base, thick; stamens 10; filaments connate into tube surrounding pistil, tube protruding slightly beyond anthers and nearly equal to length of petals; anthers extrorsely dehiscent; pistil flask-shaped; ovary conic; style short; stigma 2-lobed. Berry changing from green through red to dark purple with age, globose, fleshy. Seeds shiny, hard. x=14.

Distribution

Tropical regions in North America, West Indies, and ne South America.

Discussion

Species 1 (1 in the flora).

An early report of a second species in the Maracaibo region of Venezuela and reports of either species in Colombia appear unfounded.

Selected References

Wilson, T.K. 1964. Comparative morphology of the Canellaceae. III. Pollen. Bot. Gaz. 125(3): 192-197.

Wilson, T.K. 1966. Comparative morphology of the Canellaceae. IV. Floral morphology and conclusions. Amer. J.Bot. 53(4): 336-343.

Wilson, T.K. 1986. The natural history of Canella alba (Canellaceae). In: R.R. Smith, ed. 1986. Proceedings of the First Symposium on the Botany of the Bahamas.... San Salvador, Bahamas. Pp. 101-115.

Lower Taxa

Canella winterana