Brunfelsia americana
L.
Solanaceae
Brunfelsia abbottii Leonard
Brunfelsia fallax Duchass. ex Griseb.
Brunfelsia inodora Mart.
Brunfelsia latifolia Steud.
Brunfelsia terminalis Salisb.
Brunfelsia violacea Lodd.
Brunfelsiopsis americana (L.) Urb.
Common Name:
Cultivated plant in South Miami, Florida, USA
Photograph by: scott.zona
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Cultivated plant in South Miami, Florida, USA
Photograph by: scott.zona
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Fruiting branches
Photograph by: scott.zona
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
General Information
Brunfelsia americana is an evergreen shrub or small tree; it can grow up to 5 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 often grown as an ornamental in gardens[
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.
].
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.
].
In the island of Dominica, the plant is called empoisonneur and is employed as a poison by the Island Caribs[
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.
].
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 - Trinidad to the Dominican Republic.
Habitat
Not known
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 3.50 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.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The fruit is astringent. It has been used as a tonic to cure chronic diarrhoea and stomach problems[
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.
].
Traces of cyanide have been found in the leaves and flowers as well as in the bark of the stem and root[
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.
].
Alkaloids and chlorogenic acid are reported from the leaves and stems[
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.
