Coffea wightiana
No common name set
EditRubiaceae
Main specimen
Habit
Coffea wightiana is a small deciduous shrub, growing up to 3 m high.
It is usually found in the open or as a component of the understory in a mature forest.
Coffea wightiana small shrub
Coffea wightiana small shrub as a trimmed hedge
Stem Bark
The bark of Coffea wightiana is straight with tiny spines in branches and branchlets.
The stem of Coffea wightiana is straight with tiny spines in branches and branchlets.
Coffea wightiana bark of a mature shrub
Coffea wightiana spinescent branches appearing at regular intervals, at a 90° angle from the main stem
Coffea wightiana green stem
Leaf
The leaves of Coffea wightiana are simple and in opposite arrangement.
The length of the leaflet is 3 cm and the width is 1.5 cm.
The shape of the leaves is elliptic-ovate, apex obtuse, membranous, with a broad stipule.
Coffea wightiana simple leaves on a young plant growing in opposite arrangement
Coffea wightiana leaves with unripe fruits
Coffea wightiana single leaves elliptic-ovate with obtuse apex, upper side (left) and lower side (right)
Flower
The flower of Coffea wightiana is white.
The flower size is around 2 cm.
The flowers appear as solitary or in cymes, the bracteoles forming a calyculus and the calyx appearing irregularly and many toothed. Each flower has 5 to 7 petals, which can be round or sharp.
The flower has a mild aroma.
Coffea wightiana shrub in full bloom
Coffea wightiana flower mostly with 5 white petals
Coffea wightiana flower with 6 petals
Coffea wightiana flowers
Coffea wightiana flowers
Coffea wightiana flower with its short style removed from the tubular flower
Coffea wightiana flower
Fruit
The fruit of Coffea wightiana is a berry.
Its colour is purple when ripe.
The size of the fruit is less than 1 cm.
Coffea wightiana unripe fruits on the plant
Coffea wightiana ripe fruit appearing at the base of the leaves
Coffea wightiana mature fruits
Coffea wightiana dissected fruit showing the gelatinous membrane and seeds
Seed
The seeds of Coffea wightiana are embedded in a gelatinous membrane in the fruit.
There is usually 2 spherical seeds in each fruit.
Coffea wightiana dissected fruit with seeds inside and washed seeds (right)
Coffea wightiana washed seeds
Source
Information on this page is sourced from: