Varronia polycephala

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Varronia polycephala
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Boraginales
Family:	Boraginaceae
Genus:	Varronia
Species:	V. polycephala
Binomial name
Varronia polycephala Lam.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Cordia adnata A.DC. Cordia boliviana Gand. Cordia corymbosa f. intonsa I.M.Johnst. Cordia guazumifolia (Desv.) Roem. & Schult. Cordia hermanniifolia Cham. Cordia lapensis Warm. Cordia mariquitensis Kunth Cordia monosperma (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult. Cordia paraguariensis Chodat & Hassl. Cordia patens Kunth Cordia polycephala (Lam.) I.M.Johnst. Cordia salzmannii A.DC. Cordia salzmannii Benth. ex Griseb. Cordia sulfurata E.H.L.Krause Cordia ulmifolia Spreng. Cordia urticifolia Cham. Cordia wickstroemii Steud. Cordiopsis monosperma (Jacq.) Ham. ex Heynh. Lithocardium adnatum (A.DC.) Kuntze Lithocardium guazumifolium Kuntze Lithocardium mariquitense (Kunth) Kuntze Ulmarronia corymbosa (L.) Friesen Ulmarronia mariquitensis (Kunth) Friesen Ulmarronia patens (Kunth) Friesen Varronia boliviana (Gand.) Borhidi Varronia guazumifolia Desv. Varronia hermanniifolia (Cham.) Borhidi Varronia monosperma Jacq. Varronia paniculata Wikstr. Varronia paraguariensis (Chodat & Hassl.) Borhidi Varronia patens (Kunth) Borhidi Varronia ulmifolia Juss. ex Dum.Cours. Varronia urticifolia (Cham.) J.S.Mill.

Varronia polycephala, synonym Cordia polycephala,^[1] is a native plant of the Virgin Islands that is commonly found in open distributed areas. The flowers are sessile and the inflorescences are simple or branched. Fruits are usually bright red and 3-4 millimeters in diameter, covered by an enlarged calyx.

The stems are known to be gathered from its habitat, which are marsh forests along creeks and rivers near the coast, and used as tooth cleaners. The fruits are known to be edible and they consist of a layer of pulpy, sweetish flesh surrounding a single seed.

Varronia polycephala is also known as black-sage.^[2]

Varronia polycephala has a distribution in tropical forests of the Americas. It is native to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Lesser Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.

This species can be found in protected areas throughout its range of the Lesser Antilles and South America. In Puerto Rico it is found in public forests, such as Maricao, Ro Abajo, and Cambalache. It is also found in the Virgin Islands National Park and Sage Mountain National Park on the island of Tortola.

• Acevedo-Rodríguez, P., & Angell, B. (2005). Flora of St. John. Bronx, NY: The New York Botanical Garden.