Ernodea serratifolia

Ernodea serratifolia Correll.

Family: Rubiaceae

Habit: Ernodea serratifolia grows as a small shrub to 1.5 meters in height with square stems.  The leaves are arranged oppositely with no petiole, to 5 cm long, elliptic to linear with an acute leaf apex and a serrated margin.  The serration can be felt by running a finger along the leaf edge.

The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers arise solitarily from the leaf axils.  The calyx has 4 green unfused sepals. The corolla has 4 fused red (occasionally white) petals that form a tube 4-5 times the length of the calyx.  There are 4 stamens fused to the mouth of the corolla tube.  The ovary is inferior with 2 locules.  The fruit is a 1 or 2-seeded drupe/berry that is golden yellow at maturity.

Habitat: Ernodea serratifolia grows in open areas of Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Woodland/Shrublands. Tending to rocky soils and disturbed areas such as old roads

Distribution: Ernodea serratifolia is an endemic species that occurs throughout the Lucayan Archipelago.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Ernodea serratifolia is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.