Common names include nakedwood, snakewood, greenheart and hogplum. The generic name is derived from the Latin word coluber, meaning "snake", and refers to the snake-like stems or stamens.[3]
Description
The species are shrubs and small trees growing 1–10 metres (3.3–32.8 ft) tall, with simple ovate leaves. The flowers are small, greenish-white or yellowish; the fruit is a capsule containing three seeds.
Taxonomy
The genus is at least in part a wastebasket taxon, and revision will likely result in the renaming of a number of species to different genera in the future.[4]
In the Caribbean, the leaves and/or fruit and in some cases the bark of some species such as Colubrina elliptica (soldierwood) are used to produce a soft drink called mauby.
References
^"Genus: Colubrina Rich. ex Brongn". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-10-05. Archived from the original on 2009-05-06. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
^"Protected Trees"(PDF). Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Republic of South Africa. 3 May 2013. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2010-07-05.