Syn.: Ixora sericea Baker, Randia sericea (Baker) Hemsl.
Family: Rubiaceae Juss.
Distribution: Monotypic genus, endemic to Seychelles. It is distributed on two highest granitic inner islands of this archipelago only (Mahé and Silhouette).
Ecology: Forest margins of glacis in altitudes (350–)500–700 m a. s. l. The climate is stable over the year, humid, but not so hot – the average annual temperature is about 24 °C, annual rainfall to 2500 mm, a part of humidity comes in the form of fog.
Description: Shrub or small tree up to 5 m tall. The leaves are opposite, often crowded towards the tops of branches, leathery, lanceolate, 10–15 cm long and 5–7 cm wide, dark green, usually with red midvein and petiole. The inflorescence is cymose, flowers 5-merous; calyx is small; corolla tube is about 5 cm long, lobes 3 cm in diameter, creamy white turning yellow or red with age; stamens 5; ovary of 2-carpeled pistil inferior. The drupes are globose, about 1 cm in diameter, greenish-red when ripe.
These images were taken in Seychelles, Mahé Is., Morne Seychellois NP, glacis Copolia (February 4, 2011).
