- Balmea
Taxobox
name = "Balmea"
status = CITES_A1
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Gentianales
familia =Rubiaceae
genus = "Balmea"
genus_authority = Martinez, 1942
species = "B. stormiae"
binomial = "Balmea stormiae"
binomial_authority = Martinez, 1942
range_
"Balmea" is a genus in the family
Rubiaceae and contains a single species, "Balmea stormiae", which is locally known as ayuque. It occurs inEl Salvador ,Guatemala ,Honduras andMexico . The plant is picked for its scarlet flowers, and the whole plant sold on Mexican markets as aChristmas tree . Because populations are depleted as soon as they are discovered, this species is threatened with extinction.The genus is named in honor of botanist Juan Balme, the species name honors Marian Storm, a collaborator of the describer.
Description
The plant is a shrub of four to seven meters The smooth, greenish purple bark peels off in irregular thin shreds. The hard wood is whitish. The broadly ovate and shortly acuminate leaves are clustered at the end of the branches.
The hermaphroditic flowers are scarlet-red, tinged with purple. When fully open they turn dark purple. At night a sweet scent emanates from them.
The fruit is an erect capsule, about 25 mm long, that opens at the tip in two follicle-like portions. The numerous seed show reticulate wings of about 4 mm.Martinez, M. (1942). A New Genus of Rubiaceae from Mexico. "Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club", 69(6):438-441. doi|10.2307/2481425]
The shrub flowers from August to October, the fruit are ripe from December to January.
Taxonomy
The genus is closely related to "
Cosmibuena " and "Blepharidium " (Martinez, 1942).References
* "Plant" (2005) ISBN 075660589X
External links
* [http://fm1.fieldmuseum.org/vrrc/?page=view&id=47369&PHPSESSID=52e20422da50c1e2180a1a3ada956e62 Picture of dried leaves of "B. stormea"]
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