Guettarda krugii

Guettarda krugii Urb.

Common Names: Frog Wood, Frog Bush, Frog Tree

Family: Rubiaceae

Habit: Guettarda krugii grows as a shrub to small tree up to 10 meters in height (typically 2-3 meters) with pubescent young stems. The coriaceous leaves are arranged oppositely, clustered at branch tips, with ovate stipules between the pubescent petioles.  The leaves are ovate to suborbicular, to 15 cm long, with a rounded to acute leaf apex and an entire margin. The abaxial leaf surface covered with a fine layer of pubescence and prominent veins.

The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in axillary cymes with up to 10 flowers each. The calyx has 2 fused brown sepals.  The corolla has 7 white, fused petals that are up to 3 cm long.  There are 7 stamens that are fused to the perianth forming a hypanthium. The ovary is inferior with a single locule and many ovules.  The fruit is a round white drupe at maturity.

Habitat: Guettarda krugii grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation- Forest/Woodland/Shrubland/Dwarf Shrublands (coppice of all types).

Distribution: Guettarda krugii occurs throughout the island groupings in the Lucayan Archipelago, as well as Puerto Rico.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Guettarda krugii is used medicinally in the Bahamas for strengthening teas.