Bonania cubana

Bonania cubana A. Rich

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Habit: Bonania cubana grows as a shrub up to 2 m. in height.  The leaves are arranged alternately, ovate to elliptic, to 2 cm long and 1 cm wide. The leaves have an acute leaf apex and a crenate margin with glands in the notches.

The incomplete, imperfect, actinomorphic flowers are monoecious and arranged in spikes arising in leaf axils.  In staminate flowers the calyx has fused, membranous sepals and 2-3 stamens.  There is no corolla or carpel.  Carpellate flowers are at the base of the spike or solitary, have a fused calyx, and no corolla or stamens. The ovary is superior and has 3 locules each with a single ovule.  The fruit is a round capsule.

Habitat: Bonania cubana grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Forest/Shrublands (coppice).

Distribution: Bonania cubana occurs throughout the central island groupings of the Lucayan Archipelago and Cuba.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Bonania cubana is not known to be used medicinally in the Bahamas.