Brunfelsia nitida
Benth.
Solanaceae
Brunfelsia longituba Lem.
Brunfelsia parviflora A.Rich.
Brunfelsia parvifolia A.Rich.
Common Name:
A flowering plant of this species, or something very close to it, growing in a private garden, South Miami, Florida, USA.
Photograph by: scott.zona
A flowering plant of this species, or something very close to it, growing in a private garden, South Miami, Florida, USA.
Photograph by: scott.zona
The orange berries look nice, but are likely to be poisonous. Plant growing at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, Florida, USA
Photograph by: Kristi
Flowering plant
Photograph by: Scott Zona
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
General Information
Brunfelsia nitida is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2 metres tall[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.
Known Hazards
Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most plants in the family Solanaceae also contain poisonous alkaloids. Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
Caribbean - Cuba.
Habitat
Not known
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 1.50 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Grows best in a position with partial shade - when growing in full sun the foliage may scorch and drop[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a loamy, fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Many species in this genus grow wild in alkaline soils and, in non-alkaline soils, all members of the genus can benefit from the addition of some ground limestone[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants usually produce root suckers around the main trunk[
929- Title
- A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
- Publication
- Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
- Author
- Plowman T.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0015-0746
- Description
- A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is used for herbal baths[
563- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 25
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Botanical Museum; Massachusetts.
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains an article on medicinal and poisonous plants in the Amazon. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The fruits of this species were found to be strongly alkaloid-positive[
563- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 25
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Botanical Museum; Massachusetts.
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains an article on medicinal and poisonous plants in the Amazon. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - it has a short period of viability and does not tolerate dessication. Sown fresh, it germinates within 2 - 4 weeks[
929- Title
- A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
- Publication
- Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
- Author
- Plowman T.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0015-0746
- Description
- A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Layering[
929- Title
- A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
- Publication
- Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
- Author
- Plowman T.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0015-0746
- Description
- A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
