Gardenia mutabilis

Native from the southern Philippines to Maluku, this small tree grows in lowland rainforests and limestone forests. Opposite leaves are glossy and elliptic to spoon-shaped. Solitary, fragrant flowers have a long, slender tube and seven or eight spreading lobes. They open cream and gradually turn yellow. The calyx closely surrounds the flower tube. Rounded fruits become wrinkled at maturity and split irregularly, exposing numerous seeds embedded in orange-red pulp. Insects pollinate the flowers. It is cultivated in tropical gardens and can be propagated by seed or stem cuttings. Photographed in Florida.