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Species Details

Details of Beach gardenia will be displayed below

Beach gardenia   

Common Name: Beach gardenia
Also Known As: Sea Randa, Selar Makan, Baru-Baru Laut, Bebaru Laut, Beach Gardenia, Zebra Wood, Ketapang Pasir
Scientific Name: Guettarda speciosa
Local Name: Uni
Dhivehi Name: އުނި
Plantae  (Kingdom)
Tracheophyta  (Plylum)
Magnoliopsida  (Class)
Rubiales  (Order)
Rubiaceae  (Family)
Guettarda   (Genus)

Beach gardenia's description

It is a perennial shrub or small tree 2–6 m (6.6–19.7 ft) tall by 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) wide with smooth creamy grey bark. The large oval-shaped leaves are 15–23 cm (6–9 in) long by 10–18 cm (4–7 in) wide. Dark green and smooth above with prominent paler veins, they are finely hairy underneath. Flowering is from October to May, the fragrant white flowers are 2.5–3 cm (1–1 1?4 in) long with 4–9 lobes. These are followed by sweet-smelling globular hard fruit, measuring 2.5 cm–2.8 cm × 2.2 cm–2.5 cm (0.98 in–1.10 in × 0.87 in–0.98 in), which mature September to March.

Beach gardenia's Behavior & Ecology

The Mariana Fruit Bat (Pteropus mariannus) feeds on the fruit and flowers, acting as a vector for the dispersal of seeds.

Beach gardenia's Reproduction

Biotic (Fauna)

Beach gardenia's Relationship with Humans

Medicinal (The bark is used to treat chronic dysentery and can be applied to wounds when there are symptoms of inflammation, such as the collection of pus around the damaged tissue.), Timber & Products (The wood is used for building houses.), Cut / Dried Flower (Its fragrant flowers are used by girls who put them in their hair for the fragrance, string them into necklaces, and used them to prepare essential oil or perfume.) It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. The bark is used to treat chronic dysentery and can be applied to wounds when there are symptoms of inflammation, such as the collection of pus around the damaged tissue.

Beach gardenia threats

The species occurs in lowland areas so there may be some local threat and local loss as these sites are easily disturbed by anthropogenic activity. Despite this the species remains abundant.

Beach gardenia's status

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