Cordia sebestena - online puzzles

Cordia sebestena is a shrubby tree in the borage family, Boraginaceae, native to the American tropics. It ranges from southern Florida in the United States and the Bahamas, southwards throughout Central America and the Greater Antilles. Common names have included siricote or kopté (Mayan) in 19th Century northern Yucatán, scarlet cordia in Jamaica, and Geiger tree (after Key West wrecker John Geiger) in Florida.

Description

Cordia sebestena grows to a maximum height of 25–30 feet at maturity, with a nearly equal spread. The crown is round to vase-shaped. Branches tend to be somewhat drooping, and the tree is naturally multitrunked. When only a single trunk is allowed to develop, it can attain a diameter of 12 inches.The dense, evergreen foliage consists of dark green, leathery, alternate, ovate leaves, seven inches long, with wavy margins. These leaves are covered with small hairs, lending them a rough, "sandpapery" texture.Flowers are produced in clusters at branch ends throughout the year, particularly in the spring and summer. Flowers are two inches wide, red-orange in color, tubular, flaring (salverform) with 5-7 lobes, bearing 5-7 stamens of similar height. The species is heterostylous and presumably self-incompatible.