Drimys granadensis

Native from Mexico through Central America to Peru and northwestern Venezuela, it is an evergreen shrub or tree of mountain forests. Its leathery, oval to elongated leaves are glossy above and pale to whitish beneath, with smooth margins. Clusters of white flowers have many narrow petals and numerous stamens; the flowers often have a spicy fragrance. Beetles and flies visit the flowers for pollen and secretions from the floral tissues and are likely pollinators. Fleshy fruits develop from several separate carpels. In Colombia, the bark has been used as a spice, and the tree is also planted as an ornamental. Photographed in Bogotá, Colombia.