Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Medium

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Subtropical forest

Range

The Americas

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Toxins

Status

Uncommon

About

This shrub grows in the shaded understories of Florida and the Caribbean. Its bright red fruits mimic coffee beans to lure birds into spreading its seeds.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Gentianales

Family

Rubiaceae

Genus

Psychotria

Species

Psychotria nervosa