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Useful Tropical Plants

Brunfelsia nitida

Benth.

Solanaceae

+ Synonyms

Brunfelsia longituba Lem.

Brunfelsia parviflora A.Rich.

Brunfelsia parvifolia A.Rich.

Common Name:

Brunfelsia nitida
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
Creative Commons License
Brunfelsia nitida Brunfelsia nitida Brunfelsia nitida

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 *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height1.50 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, 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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-22. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Brunfelsia+nitida>

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