Guiana-Plum

Drypetes lateriflora (Sw.) Krug. & Urb.

DRY-pah-tees lat-er-ah-FLOR-ah

Euphorbiaceae

Explanation of name: Generic name probably from Greek dryppa, olive, in reference to the olivelike fruit. Lateriflora refers to the presence of lateral flowers along branches.

Natural range: East Coast of South Florida. Hammocks

Recognition: A shrub or small dioecious (separate male and female individuals) tree with tough elliptic to lanceolate leaves having a light-colored midvein. The small 4-sepal flowers (illustrated in TOM) are yellow green and borne along the branches. The fruits are red and fuzzy, about the size of an olive. The plant resembles Lancewood (Ocotea coriacea), but Lancewood has a stronger tendency toward lanceolate leaves and a spicy odor to the crushed foliage. Milkbark (Drypetes diversifolia Krug. & Urb.) occurs in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, and differs (WU1) by having 5 (vs. 4) sepals, 8-10 (vs. 4) stamens on male flowers, and ellipsoid fruits about 2 cm long and unilocular (vs. fruits subglobose, about 1 cm long and bilocular).

Landscape uses: Not common in landscaping

Note: Drypetes is a predominantly African genus (TOM). Species of Drypetes contain glucosinolates, plant-protective compounds more associated with the Brassicaceae.