West Indian milkberry

Chiococca alba

The West Indian milkberry is a small shrub with shiny green leaves and sweet, edible berries. It grows in warm places and is loved by birds and other animals.

Lebensraum: Coastal areas

Aussehen

The West Indian milkberry is a sprawling or climbing shrub with shiny, dark green leaves. It produces small, bell-shaped, fragrant white flowers that develop into distinctive, spherical, bright white berries, resembling tiny pearls.

ReichPlantaeStammTracheophytaKlasseMagnoliopsidaOrdnungGentianalesFamilieRubiaceaeGattungChiococca

West Indian milkberry

Kategorie

Pflanzen

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Despite being called 'milkberry,' its juicy white fruits taste sweet, not milky, and are enjoyed by wildlife!

Indigenous cultures have used parts of this plant for traditional remedies for hundreds of years!

Its scientific name, Chiococca, means 'snow berry' in Greek, describing its striking white fruits!

This plant is a cousin to coffee! Both belong to the same plant family, Rubiaceae.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

West Indian milkberry produces bright white berries that stand out against green leaves, helping birds find and spread its seeds far!

Its tiny white flowers release a sweet fragrance that helps attract bees and butterflies, ensuring successful pollination.

West Indian milkberry can climb using its sturdy stems, allowing it to reach sunlight even in dense forest areas.

Maße und Details

Höhe: 100-400 cm
Ausbreitung: 100-300 cm
Blütengröße: 0.5-1 cm
Blütezeit: Year-round, peaking in warmer months
Essbar: Ja
Giftigkeit: Keine
Lebenszyklus: Mehrjährig
Bestäubungsmethode: Insekten

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar from its flowers

pollinates

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

visits flowers for sweet nectar

eaten by

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

eats the white berries, dispersing seeds

eaten by

Red-legged Thrush

Mimocichla plumbea

feeds on the berries in the Caribbean

Merkmale

Strauch

Ein Strauch ist eine verholzende Pflanze, die kleiner als ein Baum ist und typischerweise mehrere Stämme hat, die sich ab oder nahe dem Boden verzweigen.