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Magnoliopsida
Posoqueria latifolia (Rudge) Schult.
EOL Text
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 6
Specimens with Barcodes: 10
Species With Barcodes: 1
This species is not under major conservation threat, although other species within this genus are under more pressure. It is found in the following wild areas of Costa Rica that could use protection: Arenal, Cordillera, Volcanica Central, Guantacaste, Huetar Norte, La Amistad Caribe, Osa Peninsula, Pacifico Central, Tempisque and Tortugero (Gargiullo et al. 2008).
This plant plays a very important role in the diets of many endangered mammals. Posoqueria latifolia is noted as being important in the diet of the endangered Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) (Bourne 1997; Kierulff et al. 2008). It is also consumed by the Spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) which is also endangered. (Riba-Hernandez et al. 2003; Cuarón et al. 2008).
- Bourne, G.H. 1977. Primate Conservation. Academic Press. New York, New York. USA.
- Gargiullo, M., B. Magnuson, L. Kimball. 2008. A Field Guide to Plants of Costa Rica. A Zone Tropical Publication. Barrigada, Guam.
- Cuarón, A.D., A. Morales, A. Shedden, E. Rodriguez-Luna, P.C. de Grammont, L. Cortés-Ortiz. 2008. Ateles geoffroyi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/2279/0
- Kierulff, M.C.M., A. B. Rylands, M.M. de Oliveira, M.M. 2008. Leontopithecus rosalia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/11506/0
- Riba-Hernandez, P., K. E. Stoner., P. W. Lucas. 2003. The sugar composition of fruits in the diet of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in tropical humid forest in Costa Rica. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 19:706-716.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | JohelChaves, JohelChaves |
Source | No source database. |
Posoqueria latifolia is one of many plants used by Q’eqchi Mayan peoples for healing practices and is called Jom Che in the Q’eqchi language (Rojas et al. 2010). A blood-clotting compound exists in the bark of this plant and has been used by Amazonian tribes to treat wounds from poison arrows. Additionally, the dried flowers are used to repel fleas (Barwick 2004).
- Barwick, M. 2004. Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames & Hudson. London, England.
- Rojas M.O., S. Collins, V. Cal, F. Caal, K. Knight, J. Arnason, L. Poveda, P. Sanchez-Vindas, T. Pesek. 2000. Sustaining Rainforest Plants, People and Global Health: A Model for Learning from Traditions in Holistic Health Promotion and Community Based Conservation as Implemented by Q’eqchi’ Maya Healers, Maya Mountains, Belize. Sustainability. 2:3383-3398
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | in the manner specified by the author or licensor |
Source | No source database. |
The Needle-Flower Tree or Jasmine tree is a shrub or small treelet 10m tall (Gargiullo et al. 2003) in the family Rubiaceae. This plant is known for its long, thin, radially symetrical white flowers that are produced in abundance at the ends of branches in a ‘firework-like’ display. Posoqueria latifolia sometimes is called the Perfume Tree because its abundant, drooping flowers are very fragrant and smell of citrus or gardenias, especially at night (Brown 2015). This evergreen shrub grows in a pyramid shape and is cultivated frequently by gardeners because it produces its distinct flowers in abundance year round (Huxley 1992). Its leaves are simple, opposite, leathery, oval with short stems and stipules, and measure no more than 10-20 cm long by 4-10 cm wide (Gargiullo et al. 2003). The fruit is a round berry 2 inches wide with juicy, sweet, fleshy aril that is sometimes consumed by humans. (Lorenzi et al. 2000). More commonly the fruit is consumed by monkeys and is subsequently called “The Monkey Apple.” This tree is especially important to the conservation of Spider Monkeys and Lion Tamarins (Bourne 1997; Riba-Hernandez et al. 2003).
- Bourne, G.H. 1977. Primate Conservation. Academic Press. New York, New York. USA.
- Gargiullo, M., B. Magnuson, L. Kimball. 2008. A Field Guide to Plants of Costa Rica. A Zone Tropical Publication. Barrigada, Guam.
- Brown, S. H. 2015. Posoqueria latifolia. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Fort Myers, Florida, USA. http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/GardenPubsAZ/PosoqueriaLatifoliaNeedleFlowerTree.pdf [Accessed on November 2015]
- Huxley, A. 1992. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Macmillan Press. USA.
- Riba-Hernandez, P., K. E. Stoner., P. W. Lucas. 2003. The sugar composition of fruits in the diet of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in tropical humid forest in Costa Rica. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 19:706-716.
- Lorenzi, H., L. Bacher, L. Lacerda, S. Sartori. 2000. Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics. Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA. Brazil.
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Rights holder/Author | in the manner specified by the author or licensor |
Source | No source database. |
Originally from Mexico to Northern South America (Brazil, Bolivia, Peru), this plant has been moved around the Old Tropics by humans for oriental garden use (Huxley 1992).
- Huxley, A. 1992. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Macmillan Press. USA.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | in the manner specified by the author or licensor |
Source | No source database. |
Árbol o arbusto.
Árbol o arbusto de hasta 10 m de altura. Hojas de 5-25 por 4-15 cm, de elípticas a elíptico-ovadas, venas secundarias en pares de 5 a 7; pecíolos de 5 a 20 mm de largo; estípulas de 5 a 18 mm de largo IMAGEDB.GET_BFILE_IMAGE?p_imageId=16868&p_imageResolutionId=2">(detalle">http://attila.inbio.ac.cr:7777/pls/portal30IMAGEDB.GET_BFILE_IMAGE?p_imageId=16868&p_imageResolutionId=2">(detalle de la estípula). Inflorescencias de 1 a 5 cm de diámetro (excluyendo las corolas), pedúnculo de 1 a 2 cm de largo, pedicelos de 3 a 10 mm de largo; flores (4-)5-meras; limbo del cáliz de 0,5 a 2 mm de largo, subtruncado; tubo de la corola de 7,5 a 16 cm de largo, lóbulos de 12 a 20 mm de largo. Frutos globosos, de 4 a 5 cm de diámetro.
Isotype for Tocoyena mutisii Kunth
Catalog Number: US 1560451
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Original publication and alleged type specimen examined
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): J. C. Mutis
Year Collected: 1760
Locality: Colombia, South America
- Isotype: Kunth, C. S., et al. 1818. Nova Genera Sp. Pl. 3: 321.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/botany/?irn=2077506 |
Holotype for Posoqueria mutisii Standl.
Catalog Number: US 1560305
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Card file verified by examination of alleged type specimen
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): J. C. Mutis
Year Collected: 1760
Locality: Colombia, South America
- Holotype: Standley, P. C. 1936. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 11: 232.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/botany/?irn=2077467 |
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