Tabernaemontana pachysiphon is a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 2–18 m high. The trunk has pale-brown or gray-brown bark with large lenticels. The semi-glossy, dark green leaves average 6 inches in length and are elliptic in shape. The plant blooms almost all year producing long-pedunculate inflorescence with tubular flowers. Flowers open in daytime with a sweet and persistent scent. Corolla with 5 petals is white, sometimes pale yellow, with a pale green tube and often with a pale yellow throat, thickly carnose. The petals have a distinct pinwheel shape and average 4 inches across.
(Leeuwenberg, A.J.M. and Kupicha, F.K. et al. 1985. In: Flora Zambesiaca. Apocynaceae. Vol. 7 Part. 2.)
Tabernaemontana pachysiphon is a native of tropical Africa, where it can be found from Ghana to Sudan in the north, to Angola in the southwest and Tanzania in the east. It occurs in light forest understorey and riverine forest.
(Leeuwenberg, A.J.M. and Kupicha, F.K. et al. 1985. In: Flora Zambesiaca. Apocynaceae. Vol. 7 Part. 2.)
(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)
We currently have 3 herbarium specimens for Tabernaemontana pachysiphon in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
