Citharexylum spinosum

Native to the Caribbean and from Panama into northern South America, this evergreen shrub or tree is often cultivated in warm regions. Its usually unarmed, four-angled branchlets carry opposite leaves with smooth edges, glossy surfaces and curved side veins. Fragrant white flowers grow in elongated, often drooping clusters near the branch tips. The flowers are usually functionally male or female on separate plants, with fruits developing on female specimens. Small, rounded, fleshy fruits change from orange or red to nearly black as they ripen. Plants often form several trunks and are grown as hedges, screens or small ornamental trees. Photographed in Florida.