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Shrubs 1–3(–14) m. Leaves 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. Peduncles 1–4 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Pedicels 3–5 mm, gla­brous or pubescent. Flowers: 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. Fruits drupes, 5–7(–10) × 5–8(–13) mm. Seeds 3.5–6 × 2–3 mm. 2n = 66.

Phenology: Flowering spring–fall; fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat: Dis­turbed sites.
Elevation: 0–10 m.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Introduced; Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, n South America, introduced also in s Asia (India), Australia.

Discussion

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.

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.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.