Roussea simplex
Roussea simplex Sm.
Roussea simplex is a woody climber native to the mountain forests of Mauritius. It is the sole species in the genus Roussea, belonging to the family Rousseaceae. The plant reaches a height of 4–6 m and features opposing, obovate, green leaves with modest teeth near the tip. Its flowers are mostly pentamerous, drooping, with yellowish recurved tepals and an orange, purse-shaped corolla with strongly recurved, narrowly triangular lobes.
Description
Roussea simplex is a climbing plant found exclusively in the mountainous regions of Mauritius. It is the only species in its genus and is classified within the Rousseaceae family. The leaves are entire and obovate, with a green coloration and small teeth near the apex. The flowers are typically pentamerous, with a distinctive yellowish, recurved tepal structure and an orange corolla that is shaped like a purse, ending in narrowly triangular lobes that are strongly recurved.
Distribution
Mauritius