Heterosavia bahamensis

(Britton) Petra Hoffmann

Brittonia 60: 153. 2008.

Common names: Bahama maidenbush
Illustrated
Basionym: Savia bahamensis Britton Torreya 4: 104. 1904
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 333.

Shrubs or trees, (5–)20–40(–80) dm. Leaves: petiole 2–5(–8) mm; blade usually obovate or elliptic, sometimes oblong, (1–)2–4.5(–8) × (0.7–)1.2–2.5(–4.5) cm, base acute, obtuse, or rounded, apex acute, obtuse, rounded, truncate, or retuse, surfaces usually glabrous, sometimes with scattered hairs. Inflorescences: staminate flowers (6–)10–25 per glome. Pedicels: pistillate 1–6 mm. Staminate flowers: sepals ovate or oblong, 1.5–2 mm, hairy abaxially, sometimes ciliate; petals spatulate to obdeltate, 1–1.5 mm, margins erose to lacerate, apex truncate; stamens 2–4 mm. Pistillate flowers: sepals orbiculate, ovate, or deltate, 1–2 mm, hairy abaxially, sometimes ciliate; petals spatulate to orbiculate or oblong, 1–2 mm, entire to slightly erose, sometimes ciliate. Capsules 6–7(–9) mm diam. Seeds brown to reddish, 3–5.5 mm.


Phenology: Flowering and fruiting year-round.
Habitat: Hammocks, limestone.
Elevation: 0–10 m.

Distribution

V12 604-distribution-map.jpg

Fla., West Indies (Greater Antilles).

Discussion

Heterosavia bahamensis is restricted in the flora area to the lower Florida Keys, where it may be locally abundant, forming monospecific thickets.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.