Exostema salicifolium
| Exostema salicifolium | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Exostema |
| Species: | E. salicifolium |
| Binomial name | |
| Exostema salicifolium | |
Exostema salicifolium is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is a shrub or tree with subleathery leaves, a purplish corolla, and capsule fruits. The species is native to Cuba.
Exostema salicifolium is native to Cuba, and is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
Taxonomy
The species was described by August Grisebach in 1866.[2] The type locality is in western Cuba.[3]
Distribution
Exostema salicifolium is native to the wet tropical biome of Cuba.[4] It has only been reported from a single location.[1]
Description
Exostema salicifolium is a shrub or tree.[4] It grows to around 3 metres (9.8 ft) high. The branches are slender and greyish.[3]
The leaves are up to 1.5 millimetres (0.059 in) long. The leaves are subleathery, oblong-oblanceolate or narrowly elliptical-oblong, 3–4 centimetres (1.2–1.6 in) long, and 0.7–1.1 centimetres (0.28–0.43 in) wide.[3]
The flowers are solitary, and grow on 1–1.8 centimetres (0.39–0.71 in) stems. The hypanthium is oval-elliptic, and 3–4 millimetres (0.12–0.16 in) long. The calyx has minute lobes. The corolla is purplish on the outside, and white on the inside. The corolla tube is around 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long, and has five lobes.[3]
The fruit is an ellipsoid capsule, measuring 1.2–1.8 centimetres (0.47–0.71 in) long.[3]
Conservation
In 2022, the IUCN assessed Exostema salicifolium as Critically Endangered. It may be extinct.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Gómez Hechavarría, J.L.; González-Oliva, L.; Acosta, Z. (2025). "Exostema salicifolium". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (in Spanish). 2025 e.T240913775A240917520. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS.T240913775A240917520.es. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Exostema salicifolium Griseb". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Paul Carpenter Standley (1921). North American flora. Vol. 32. New York Botanical Garden. p. 119.
- 1 2 "Exostema salicifolium". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2026-08-03.