Chiococca stricta

Chiococca stricta Correll

Family: Rubiaceae

Habit Chioccoca stricta grows as an erect shrub to 2 meters in height. The leaves are arranged oppositely, ovate to elliptic, to 4 cm in length, with an obtuse leaf apex and an entire margin. The stipules are connate with bristle teeth.

C. stricta differs from C. alba by having branches ascending rather than at 90-degree angles to the stem (C. alba). 

The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in few flowered racemes.  The calyx has 5 unfused sepals.  The corolla has 5 fused, white petals.  There are 5 stamens.  The ovary is inferior with 2 locules.  The fruit is a compressed, few seeded, berry that is white at maturity.

Habitat: Chioccoca stricta grows as an understory shrub in Pine Woodlands and grasslands.

Distribution: Chioccoca stricta is endemic to the Lucayan Archipelago known only from Cat Island.

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