''Psammisia'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the family

Ericaceae The Ericaceae () are a Family (biology), family of flowering plants, commonly known as the heath or heather family, found most commonly in acidic and infertile growing conditions. The family is large, with about 4,250 known species spread acros ...

. It contains the fruiting bushes commonly called ''joyapas'' and is distributed throughout the

Neotropics The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone. Definition In biogeog ...

Description

''Psammisia'' are shrubs can be found on land or as epiphytes. Their leaves are usually arranged alternately, occasionally in pairs, with a leathery texture and smooth edges. The flowers are typically grouped in small clusters or elongated spikes, with each flower having a small bract and two basal bracteoles. The flowers have five petals, no scent, and a valve-like arrangement as they open. The calyx is fused, forming a tube that is round or occasionally winged, with the upper part standing upright or spreading out. The corolla is also fused, forming a tube that can be cylindrical, elongated, urn-shaped, or nearly spherical, with a fleshy texture. Psammisia flowers have 8 to 12 stamens, which are equal in length to about one-third of the corolla or almost as long as the corolla itself. The stamen filaments may be separate or joined together, and they often have two conspicuous spurs at the tips. The anthers are rigid and open through elongated slits facing inward. The ovary is positioned below the flower. Psammisia plants produce fruit in the form of berries, which have a leathery texture.

Description

Species

References

External links