Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult.

 ALA  NSL [legitimate]
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Roemer, J.J. & Schultes, J.A. (1819), Systema Vegetabilium 4: 460

Nomenclature

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Barker, R.M. & Telford, I.R.H. (1993), Boraginaceae. Flora of Australia 50: 355
 APC
 NSL
nomenclatural synonym: Varronia curassavica Jacq.
  Barker, R.M. & Telford, I.R.H. (1993), Boraginaceae. Flora of Australia 50: 355
 APC
 NSL
nomenclatural synonym: Varronia curassavica Jacq.

Specimens

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Etymology

Epithet from the locality of the type collection, Curacao or Caribbean Sea region.

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Common Name

Black Sage, Wild Sage.

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Description

Woody herb or shrub to 1 (–3) m high, often with an odour of sage. Leaves: lamina lanceolate to ovate, 4–10 cm long, 1.5–6 cm wide, attenuate and sometimes asymmetrical at base, dentate margin, acute at apex, upper surface green, roughened with mineralised protuberances, lower surface pale, densely and softly pubescent; petiole c. 7.5 mm long. Spikes terminal or internodal; flowers not heterostylous. Calyx c. 3 mm long, granular or ± strigose outside; lobes c. 1 mm long. Corolla funnel-shaped, 4–6 mm long, white; lobes c. 2 mm long. Stamens just exserted; filaments inserted midway in corolla tube, 1–2 mm long. Fruit fleshy, red, just exceeding enlarged calyx; stone ovoid, 4–5 mm long.

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Biostatus

Naturalised.

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Distribution

Introduced to Christmas Island. Native to tropical America, where it is a common weed.

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Habitat

Found near old gardens, with collections coming from naturalised populations.

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Representative Herbarium Specimens

Ch.Is.: without specific locality, D.A. Powell 272 (K); central area work quarry, R. Shivas 897 (PERTH).

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Uses

Has traditional medicinal and other uses; see Fern (2021) and references therein.

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Taxonomic Notes

Sometimes treated as Varronia curassavica Jacq.

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Bibliography

Barker, R.M. & Telford, I.R.H. (1993). Boraginaceae, in George, A.S. et al. (eds), Flora of Australia 50: 353–360. (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra).

CABI (accessed 2021). Cordia curassavica datasheet in Invasive Species Compendium.

Fern, K. (2014 onwards). Varronia curassavica, in Useful Tropical Plants [accessed 7 October 2021]

Swarbrick, J.T. & Hart, R. (2000). Environmental weeds of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) and their management. Plant Protection Quarterly 16(2): 54–57.

Contributed by Phillip Kodela
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Source

Published 7 October 2021. Adapted from Barker & Telford (1993). Updated by P.G. Kodela (October 2021).

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© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2024
Last updated: Unknown; Feb 29, 2024 12:39 Status: Partial

Author - R.M. Barker

Editor - P.G. Kodela

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Acknowledgements -

Cite this profile as: R.M. Barker. Cordia curassavica, in P.G. Kodela (ed.), Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Cordia%20curassavica [Date Accessed: 19 September 2025]