Cestrum parqui (Lam.) L'Hér.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 8, Part 4. Solanaceae. Gonçalves AE. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Shrub to 3 m, pubescent on younger branches.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, soon glabrous or almost so.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal compound paniculiform inflorescences, with reduced bract-like leaves intercalated, fragrant at night.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 5–6.5 mm long, tubular with short lobes; corolla tube greenish-yellow, 15–17 mm long, infundibuliform, narrow to a little above the calyx, then gradually widened; lobes triangular-lanceolate, hairy towards the edges; stamens inserted above widening of the corolla tube, basally swollen; ovary glabrous; style 16 mm long, pubescent at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit violet-brown to black, 8–10 mm long, ovoid

Distribution

Mozambique Native of the southern parts of South America, long cultivated in Europe and introduced to other parts of the Old World.

Solanaceae, Jennifer M Edmonds. Oliganthes, Melongena & Monodolichopus, Maria S. Vorontsova & Sandra Knapp. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2012

Type

Type: Chile, Concepcion, Dombey s.n. (locality of type not cited, ?P, holo. [NB if holo. not extant, Plate 36 of L’Heritier, Stirp. Nov. fasc., 4 (1788) should be designated as lecto.]

Morphology General Habit

Deciduous erect shrubs 1–3 m high.

Morphology Stem

Stems numerous and often suckering, green, terete, lenticellate, glabrescent with inconspicuous stalked glands throughout

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sometimes glossy, dark green, narrowly lanceolate, 8–11 × 2–3.7 cm, bases cuneate, often decurrent to stems, margins entire rarely sinuate, apices acute, both surfaces glabrescent but with stalked glands; stipules ovate to spatulate; petioles 5–9 mm long, glabrescent. Inflorescences congested terminal or lateral panicles; flowering stems shortly pilose/villous with simple, few-celled glandular and eglandular hairs; bracts narrowly lanceolate, ± 3 mm long, shortly pilose, some hairs glandular; pedicels 0.7–4 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx cupulate/tubular, pale green, 4–5.5 mm long, pilose externally, lobes equal or unequal, triangular, 0.8–1 × 0.7–1.2 mm in flower, apex acute, enlarging to 2 × 2.5 mm in fruit, with denser pubescence and apical tufts of hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow or yellowish-green, tubular to infundibuliform, (1.2–)1.8–2.2 cm long and 0.7–1.2 cm diameter apically; tube cylindrical or slightly bulbous above, (1.2–)1.4–1.8 cm long, diameter increasing to 3.5–4 mm below lobes, glabrescent externally, shortly pilose internally, with short, acute or obtuse triangular valvate lobes, usually spreading after anthesis when rounded and 2–5 × 1.5–3.5 mm, with densely pilose marginal bands externally

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens usually equal, with anthers and stigma visible in corolla throat; filaments free for 6–8 mm, curved apically, enlarged and pilose at adnation; anthers yellow to brown, 0.8–1.1 × 0.8–1 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary green sometimes flecked purple, globose or broadly ovoid, 0.9–1.2 mm long, glabrous; disc pale green, cupulate, upper margins crenulate, 0.7–1.3 mm broad; style 14–16 mm long; stigma 1–1.2 mm broad

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berry dark purple to blackish, ovoid, 7–8 × 6–7 mm, surrounded by cupulate calyx with adherent calyx lobes sometimes splitting to expose fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ovoid, prismatic, dark brown, 3.5–4 mm long.

Ecology

Sometimes occurring as an escape and recorded from open woodland with Crotalaria; 1850–3200 m

Conservation

Widespread; least concern (LC)

Note

Though this species is a widespread ornamental it is is well known for its toxicity (especially hepatic toxins) with common names including Green poison berry, Chilean- or green- Cestrum as well as Willow-leaved Jessamine. The flowers are reportedly slightly fragrant after dusk, and the leaves can be malodorous.

Distribution

Flora districts: K4 Range: Native to Chile and Argentina, now a widespread ornamental