Oxyanthus tubiflorus

Oxyanthus tubiflorus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Rubiaceae
Genus:	Oxyanthus
Species:	O. tubiflorus
Binomial name
	Oxyanthus tubiflorus; (Andrews) DC.
Synonyms
	Gardenia tubiflora Andrews ; Oxyanthus speciosus W.T.Aiton ;

Oxyanthus tubiflorus, commonly called the needle flower, is a shrub in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to Sierra Leone, Guinea and probably neighboring Liberia.^[1] It is noteworthy for producing one of the skinniest flowers of any land (non-aquatic) plant, up to seven inches (17 centimeters) in length,^[2] while only 1/16th inch (1.5 millimeters) in width; a length to width ratio of 112 fold. The leaves are opposite and 3 to seven inches (7 to 17 centimeters) long by 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 centimeters) wide. It is pollinated by a species of sphinx moth.

References

^ "Oxyanthus tubiflorus (Andrews) DC". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
^ Bailey, Liberty Hyde, ed. (1935). Cyclopedia of Horticulture. New York: MacMillan and Co. p. Vol. 2 p. 2419.

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[1] "Oxyanthus tubiflorus (Andrews) DC". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 17 September 2021.

[2] Bailey, Liberty Hyde, ed. (1935). Cyclopedia of Horticulture. New York: MacMillan and Co. p. Vol. 2 p. 2419.

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