Golden-Creeper, Coughbush

Ernodea littoralis Sw.

err-NODE-ee-ah lit-or-AY-less

Rubiaceae

Explanation of name: The generic name comes from Greek, ernos, for offshoot, in reference to the short branches that jut out from the main stems. Littoralis means on shores.

Natural range: Florida and the Bahamas to Mesoamerica. Seaside dunes

Recognition: A tough, maritime, creeping or arching subshrub with opposite, stipulate, narrowly elliptic, stiff leaves having parallel veins, long-tubular pale flowers, and golden fruits. The plants are probably apomictic (produce seeds with embryos that are clones of the parent).

Landscape uses: Extremely tough and salt-tolerant. A seaside ground cover. The coarse texture, slow growth, and partial ground-coverage limits the use of this species, although it is attractive and unique with its arching growth pattern.