For a prickly sclerophyllous-looking shrub, this member of the Apocynaceae makes for a rather interesting occurrence in the rainforest. Evolutionarily speaking, it would be very interesting to take a look at the functional attributes of this plant to see if it was derived from a woodland ancestor.
Like other Alyxias, A. ruscifolia is quite well characterized by the leaves in distinct whorls. The fruits can occur in chained beads. The flowers are also typical of the family, having a somewhat ‘pin-wheel’ look.
About David Tng
I am
David Tng, a hedonistic botanizer who pursues plants with a fervour. I chase the opportunity to delve into various aspects of the study of plants. I have spent untold hours staring at mosses and allied plants, taking picture of pollen, culturing orchids in clean cabinets, counting tree rings, monitoring plant flowering times, etc. I am currently engrossed in the study of plant ecology (a grand excuse to see 'anything I can). Sometimes I think of myself as a shadow taxonomist, a sentimental ecologist, and a spiritual environmentalist - but at the very root of it all, a "plant whisperer"!
Leaf Whispering in the Tropics 