RIVINA

Rivina L., Sp. Pl. 1: 121. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 57. 1754; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 5: 436; Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org 4: 9

Herbs or shrubs, perennial, suffrutescent. Stem erect, dichotomous, angulate. Leaves alternate, long petiolate, leaf blade ovate with apex acuminate. Racemes terminal or axillary, erect or curved, slender, many flowered. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, small. Sepals 4, persistent. Petals absent. Stamens 4, alternate with tepals. Carpel 1; ovary superior, ovoid, unilocular with one basal ovule; style slightly curved; stigma capitate. Fruit berry (also termed drupe by some), red or orange, 1-seeded.

Monotypic genus

Rivina humilis

Rivina humilis L., Sp. Pl. 1: 121. 1753; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 5: 436; Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org 4: 10; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org

Plants erect, straggling undershrub, up to 1 m tall, suffrutescent, pubescent. Leaves alternate, petiolate, petiole 1-3 cm long, pubescent; leaf blade ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 5-15 cm x 2-7 cm, margin sinuate, base rounded to cuneate, apex acuminate, abaxially pubescent. Racemes axillary, up to 15 cm long (including peduncle), up to 50-flowered, pubescent. Flowers pedicellate, pedicel slender, bracteate, ebracteolate. Sepals 4, white or slightly pink, elliptic or oblong, persistent in fruit, green and reflexed. Petals absent. Stamens 4, alternate with sepals, shorter than sepals, green when mature, subpersistent. Carpel 1; ovary +/- globose, unilocular with one basal ovule; style shorter than ovary, curved; stigma capitate. Berry (some call it Drupe), +/- globose with small beak, 3-4 mm in diameter, glossy bright red. Seed 1, lenticular, black-brown, 2-3 mm, densely pubescent.

Flowering and Fruiting: August to December
Common Names: Blood Berry, Pigeon Berry, Coral Berry, Baby Pepper, Rouge Plant