Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, evergreen
Shape
Ovated to lanceolate with zero lobes
Margin
Crenate to serrate
Arrangement
Opposite with short petioles
Venation
Pinnate with heavily sunken, prominent veins creating a rugose texture
Key Features
Rugose leaf surface with deeply impressed veins and ovate shape with serrate margins
Description
A branching shrub growing up to two meters tall with rough stems, aromatic foliage, and rounded flower clusters transitioning from yellow to pink or red
Habitat
Full sun in well-drained, dry to moist soils across disturbed areas, open woodlands, and coastal sites
Native Range
Native to the American tropics and widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions globally
Identified on 10/18/2026