Posoqueria longiflora

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Posoqueria longiflora
Posoqueria longiflora (7090319193).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Posoqueria
Species:
P. longiflora
Binomial name
Posoqueria longiflora
Synonyms [2]
  • Kyrtanthus longiflorus(Aubl.) J.F.Gmel.
  • Solena longiflora(Aubl.) Willd.
  • Tocoyena undulatifoliaA.Rich.
  • Posoqueria acuminataMart.
  • Willdenovia schreberiJ.F.Gmel.

Posoqueria longiflora, also known as needle flower tree [3] or needle flower [4] [5] is a species of shrub or tree in the family Rubiaceae [6] native to subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest [1] of Northern South America. [7]

Contents

Description

Detail of Posoqueria longiflora flower Posoqueria longiflora-IMG 3455.jpg
Detail of Posoqueria longiflora flower

Vegetative characteristics

Posoqueria longiflora is a 2–5 m tall shrub or tree [6] bearing lanceolate, acuminate leaves with a wavy leaf margin. [8]

Generative characteristics

The pendent, elegant, terminal inflorescences [8] bear fragrant, [9] nectariferous, [4] sphingophilous, [4] [9] tubular, [8] pure white, flowers 28–35 cm (rarely to 38 cm) long, [10] while not over 2 mm diameter. [11] The five petals [4] are reflexed. [4] [8] The yellow [12] or orange fruit has five linear, pointed, leathery, persistent sepals. [13]

Taxonomy

It was described by Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet in 1775. [14] It is the type species of its genus. [7]

Etymology

The specific epithet longiflora means having long flowers. [15]

Ecology

Pollination

It is pollinated by a sphinx moth. [4] [9] When a sphinx moth inserts its proboscis into the flower, it touches a trigger mechanism which causes the four lateral stamens (two pairs) to move away from the center, while the middle stamen lunges forward like a catapult coating the lower surface of the moth with pollen [16] [ failed verification ] to pollinate the stigma of the next flower visited. The role of the lateral stamens remains unclear.

Herbivory

The fruit is eaten by fish. [9]

Use

The fruit is edible [7] [9] and sweet. [17] It is used as bait for fishing. [9]

References

  1. 1 2 Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Posoqueria longiflora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T145687690A145687692. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T145687690A145687692.en . Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Posoqueria longiflora Aubl". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  3. ↑ Posoqueria longiflora. (n.d.). University of Connecticut. Retrieved September 13, 2025, from https://bcmapp.dev.i3.uconn.edu/plants/info/201100206
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Botanic Gardens of Sydney. (2023, November 30). Must see December. Sydney.
  5. ↑ Posoqueria longiflora. (n.d.-b). PlantThis. Retrieved September 13, 2025, from http://www.plantthis.com.au/plant-information.asp?gardener=27331
  6. 1 2 Gomes, M. & Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. (n.d.). Posoqueria longiflora Aubl. Flora E Funga Do Brasil. Retrieved September 13, 2025, from https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB24531
  7. 1 2 3 Büttner, R. (2001). Mansfeld's Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: (Except Ornamentals). pp. 1775–1776  Germany: Springer.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Posoqueria longiflora. (n.d.). Flore De Guyane. Retrieved September 13, 2025, from https://floredeguyane.piwigo.com/index?/category/2261-iposoqueria_longiflora_i
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 La plante du mois Posoqueria longiflora. (2024, April 15). Réserve Naturelle Régionale Trésor. Retrieved September 13, 2025, from https://www.reserve-tresor.fr/la-plante-du-mois-30/
  10. ↑ Delprete, Piero G. (2009-03-23). "Taxonomic History, Morphology, and Reproductive Biology of the Tribe Posoquerieae (Rubiaceae, Ixoroideae) 1" . Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 96 (1): 79–89. doi:10.3417/2006192. ISSN   0026-6493 . Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  11. ↑ Fayaz, Ahmed (2011). Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants. Buffalo, N.Y.: Firefly Books. p. 580.
  12. ↑ Flörke, H. G., Korth, J. W. D., Hoffmann, C. O., Kossarski, L. (1810). Oekonomische Encyklopädie, oder, Allgemeines System der Staats-, Stadt-, Haus- und Landwirthschaft: in alphabetischer Ordnung. p. 651. Germany: J. Pauli.
  13. ↑ The William & Lynda Steere Herbarium. (2019, January 24). Specimen Details - Posoqueria longiflora Aubl. Retrieved September 13, 2025, from https://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/vh/specimen-details/?irn=2512306
  14. ↑ Aublet, Fusée. (1775). Histoire des plantes de la Guiane Françoise : rangées suivant la méthode sexuelle, avec plusieurs mémoires sur différens objects intéressans, relatifs à la culture & au commerce de la Guiane Françoise, & une notice des plantes de l’Isle-de-France ... (Vol. 1, p. 134). P. F. Didot jeune. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/362110
  15. ↑ Wallace, B. (2001). Understanding the system of botanical plant names. Australian Plants Online. Retrieved September 13, 2025, from https://anpsa.org.au/APOL27/sep02-4.html
  16. ↑ Kainulainen, Kent; Razafimandimbison, Sylvain (October 2013). "Phylogenetic relationships and new tribal delimitations in subfamily Ixoroideae (Rubiaceae)". Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 173 (3): 387–406. doi: 10.1111/boj.12038 .
  17. ↑ Lehmann, K. G. (1854). Handbuch der physiologischen Chemie. p. 130. Germany: W. Engelmann.
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