Maytenus lucayana

Maytenus lucayana Britton.

Common Names: Bahama Maytenus

Family: Celestraceae

Habit: Maytenus lucayana grows as a large shrub to small tree up to 5 m in height with a trunk to 10 cm in diameter. The young stems are angular. The leaves are arranged alternately, up 3 cm in length, are orbicular to broadly elliptic/ovate with an entire leaf margin and a rounded leaf apex. The leaves are shiny green at adaxially. Midvein and major secondary venation clearly visible as they are depressed within the leaf surface both ab- and adaxially.

The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers occur in clusters along the stem and from leaf axils.  The calyx has 5 greenish unfused sepals.  There are no records of petals based on herbarium specimens.  There are 5 stamens and the carpel has 1 locule and the fruit is round at maturity.

Habitat: Maytenus lucayana grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formations – Woodland/Shrublands and Pine Woodlands along the edges of ponds and wetlands.

Distribution: Maytenus lucayana is endemic to the Lucayan Archipelago found on Andros and Grand Bahama.

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