Tabernaemontana cymosa

Native to Trinidad and Tobago and tropical South America, this tree in the dogbane family can grow more than 33 feet tall. It has fissured light brown bark and opposite leaves with smooth margins. Branched flower clusters are cream-yellow with orange coloring inside the base. Its paired, fleshy fruits split open to expose numerous seeds with reddish coverings. Birds disperse the seeds. All parts contain white latex. In Colombia, it grows in tropical dry forests and other lowland habitats from near sea level to about 1,300 feet. Photographed in Cerro de la Vieja, Colombia.