Canella

P. Browne

Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica, 275, plate 27, fig. 3. 1756.

Common names: Canella or wild-cinnamon Latin canella cinnamon related to cana cane or reed and
Etymology: ella, diminutive, because of the tightly rolled bark when dried
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

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.

Lower Taxa

... more about "Canella"
Thomas K. Wilson +
P. Browne +
Canella or wild-cinnamon +, Latin canella +, cinnamon +, related to cana +, cane or reed +  and and +
Tropical regions in North America +, West Indies +  and and ne South America. +
ella, diminutive, because of the tightly rolled bark when dried +
Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica, +
wilson1964a +, wilson1966a +  and wilson1986a +
Canella +
Canellaceae +