Soldierwood
Colubrina elliptica
Plant Family: Rhamnaceae
Leaves: Alternate, simple, thin, ovate to elliptic, apices long pointed, to 10 cm. Two small glands can be seen on the basal leaf margin.
Bark: Light reddish gray.
Flowers: Yellow, with 5 petals, in axillary clusters in summer.
Fruits: A round, green, 3-part capsule that turns orange, to 1 cm; seen fall to winter.
Habitat: Hammock edges of the Everglades and the Keys.
Growth Form: Shrub to small tree.
Similar Species: Coffee Colubrina (Colubrina arborescens) has leathery leaves with dark fruits; Cuban Colubrina (Colubrina cubensis) also has leathery leaves but with round-toothed margins.
Comments: The common name refers to the popping sound made by the ripe fruits when abruptly releasing their seeds, sending them a distance from the parent tree. The bark is used in the West Indies to produce Mauby (also spelled Mavi), a popular drink. Soldierwood is listed as an endangered species in Florida.
