Oxyanthus tubiflorus
Appearance
Oxyanthus tubiflorus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Rubiaceae |
Genus: | Oxyanthus |
Species: | O. tubiflorus
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Binomial name | |
Oxyanthus tubiflorus | |
Synonyms | |
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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
[edit]- ^ "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.