View source for Rauvolfia tetraphylla

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Rauvolfia tetraphylla
|accepted_authority=Linnaeus
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Sp. Pl.
|place=1: 208. 1753
|year=1753
}}
|special_status={{Treatment/ID/Special_status
|code=I
|label=Introduced
}}{{Treatment/ID/Special_status
|code=F
|label=Illustrated
}}
|basionyms=
|synonyms=
|hierarchy=Apocynaceae;Rauvolfia;Rauvolfia tetraphylla
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Apocynaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Rauvolfia]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>species</small>[[Rauvolfia tetraphylla]]</div></div>
|volume=Volume 14
|mention_page=
|treatment_page=
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-undefined" data-properties=""><b>Shrubs </b>1–3(–14) m. <b>Leaves</b> anisophyllous; petiole 1–7(–20) mm, glabrous; blade narrowly oblong-elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 4–12(–17) × 1.5–5(–7) cm, membranous to subcoriaceous, base acute to rounded, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous or pubescent. <b>Peduncles</b> 1–4 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. <b>Pedicels</b> 3–5 mm, glabrous or pubescent. <b>Flowers</b>: calyx lobes broadly ovate, 0.5–1.5 mm, glabrous or minutely glandular-pubescent on margins; corolla glabrous throughout or eglandular-pubescent abaxially, tube 2–3(–5) × 0.1–2 mm, throat 1.5–2 × 1.5–2 mm with a conspicuous adaxial ring of hairs, lobes spreading, obliquely obovate to suborbiculate, 2–3.5 × 1–2 mm, ± as long as wide. <b>Fruits</b> drupes, 5–7(–10) × 5–8(–13) mm. <b>Seeds</b> 3.5–6 × 2–3 mm. <b>2n</b> = 66.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|phenology=Flowering spring–fall; fruiting summer–fall.
|habitat=Disturbed sites.
|elevation=0–10 m.
|distribution=Fla.;Mexico;West Indies;Central America;n South America;introduced also in s Asia (India);Australia.
|introduced=true
|discussion=<p>Rauvolfia tetraphylla is cultivated at several localities in Florida and has apparently become naturalized in at least one location in Palm Beach County. The fleshy fruits, with one or two small, ovoid seeds, are distinctive among North American Apocynaceae.</p><!--
--><p>Rauvolfia species are well known for the production of numerous alkaloids, particularly reserpine, which are found throughout the plant and can cause reductions in blood pressure and heart rate when ingested (G. E. Burrows and R. J. Tyrl 2013). The milky latex of R. tetraphylla often causes irritation and reddening of the skin upon contact.</p>
|tables=
|references=
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-->{{#Taxon:
name=Rauvolfia tetraphylla
|authority=Linnaeus
|rank=species
|parent rank=genus
|synonyms=
|basionyms=
|family=Apocynaceae
|phenology=Flowering spring–fall; fruiting summer–fall.
|habitat=Disturbed sites.
|elevation=0–10 m.
|distribution=Fla.;Mexico;West Indies;Central America;n South America;introduced also in s Asia (India);Australia.
|introduced=true
|reference=None
|publication title=Sp. Pl.
|publication year=1753
|special status=Introduced;Illustrated
|source xml=
|genus=Rauvolfia
|species=Rauvolfia tetraphylla
}}<!--

-->[[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Rauvolfia]]