Myrsine
Myrsine cubana
Plant Family: Myrsinaceae
Leaves: Alternate, simple, obovate, lustrous, to 10 cm, appearing whorled at the twig ends, apices may be notched; new leaves, if present, are smaller and bright green.
Bark: Light brown to gray, twigs end in a green stipule.
Flowers: Creamy yellow, small, found along the leafless parts of the branches in winter.
Fruits: Green drupes that ripen to blue-black, to about 1 cm, held along the leafless parts of the branches where they may persist for much of the year.
Habitat: Common in hammocks and pinelands.
Growth Form: Shrub to small tree.
Similar Species: Marlberry (Ardisia escallonioides) has brown stipules at the twig ends and the flowers and fruits are in clusters near the branch ends, not back along the branches.
Comments: Older references list this species as Rapanea guianensis or Myrsine floridana. Myrsine ranges as far south as Brazil, it is at the northern limit of its range here in Florida.
