Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Cestrum L.

CESTRUM L.

Unarmed shrubs or occasionally small trees. Lvs simple, entire, foetid when bruised, hairy or glabrous. Panicle of few to many clusters of axillary or terminal cymes; fls often fragrant. Calyx 5-(6)-lobed, campanulate to tubular; lobes small, < tube. Corolla tubular to salverform, with throat widened or contracted, most colours except blue; lobes 5, short. Stamens 5, inserted from around middle to near base of corolla tube, included, sometimes appendaged. Stigma usually 2-lobed. Fr. a berry, often scarcely succulent. Seeds few, of moderate size.

Key

1
Shoots and lvs glabrous or glabrate; corolla tube not constricted at apex, white to orange
2
Shoots and lower surface of lvs densely and persistently hairy; corolla tube constricted at apex, red to purple
4
2
Fls scentless; corolla orange
Fls fragrant, especially at night; corolla greenish white to pale greenish yellow or brownish yellow
3
3
Fls in rather diffuse clusters; fr. white
Fls densely clustered; fr. black
4
Corolla tube glabrous outside, rosy magenta or deep rose
Corolla tube densely hairy outside, usually scarlet, occasionally rosy purple

c. 175 spp., tropical America, doubtfully indigenous elsewhere. Naturalised spp. 5.

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