Guettarda speciosa

Guettarda speciosa, colloquially called beach gardenia, or zebra wood, is a species of shrub in the family Rubiaceae found in coastal habitats in tropical areas around the Pacific Ocean, including the coastline of central and northern Queensland and Northern Territory in Australia, and Pacific Islands, including Micronesia, French Polynesia and Fiji, Malaysia and Indonesia and the east coast of Africa.

It reaches 6 m in height, has fragrant white flowers, and large green prominently-veined leaves. It grows in sand above the high tide mark.

It is a perennial shrub or small tree 2-6 m (7-20 ft) tall by 1-3 m (3-10 ft) wide with smooth creamy grey bark. The large oval-shaped leaves are 15-23 cm (6-9 in) long by 10-18 cm (4-7 in) wide.

Dark green and smooth above with prominent paler veins, they are finely hairy underneath. Flowering is from October to May, the fragrant white flowers are 2.5-3 cm (1-1½ in) long with 4-9 lobes.

These are followed by sweet-smelling globular hard fruit, measuring 2.5-2.8 x 2.2-2.5 cm (1 x 1 in), which mature September to March.

Guettarda speciosa is found in coastal habitats in tropical areas around the Pacific Ocean, including the coastline of central and northern Queensland and Northern Territory in Australia, and Pacific Islands, including Micronesia, French Polynesia and Fiji, Malaysia and Indonesia and the east coast of Africa. As its name suggests, the beach gardenia grows on beaches and sandy places above the high tide level.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guettarda_speciosa


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