Fragrant Panama Rose

Description

Rondeletia odorata is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family. It is native to Cuba and Panama. It is cultivated elsewhere. Common names include rondeletia, Cleveland Sunrise, and Panama-rose. This plant is a shrub or small tree growing up to 2 meters tall. The rough, leathery leaves are oppositely arranged and measure up to 5 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a cluster of several five-lobed flowers in shades of bright red with yellow throats. There are three subspecies, Rondeletia odorata subsp. bubbleta, R. o. subsp. grandifolia, and R. o. subsp. scented. Rondeletia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It is endemic to the Neotropics.There are around 160 species. Rondeletia odorata is widely grown as an ornamental.Several other species are also known in cultivation. Rondeletia was named in 1753 by Linnaeus in his book, Species Plantarum.This genus name commemorates the French physician Guillaume Rondelet (1507-1566). The type species for Rondeletia is Rondeletia americana. It is little known and rarely collected. The circumscription of Rondeletia has varied greatly from one author to another. Rogiera, Arachnothryx, and a few others have been included in Rondeletia by some authors, but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that they are closer to Guettarda than to Rondeletia, and they are now recognized as separate genera.Even with these segregates removed, Rondeletia remains polyphyletic and will be substantially revised after further phylogenetic study.