False boxwood False boxwood

Myginda latifolia Swartz, Prodr., 39. 1788

Shrubs or trees to 8 m. Stems much-branched; branches 4-angled. Leaves: petiole 0–2 mm; blade bright green, obovate to elliptic-obovate, 2–4 × 1–3 cm, base acuminate to acute, margins entire or obscurely crenulate-serrate, especially distally, reflexed, apex round or emarginate. Staminate flowers: sepals 1 mm; petals elliptic to obovate-elliptic, 1.5–2 mm. Pistillate flowers: sepals 1 mm; petals elliptic to obovate-elliptic, 1.5–2 mm. Drupes 7–8 × 3–5 mm; peduncle to 8 mm. Seeds black or dark blue, ovoid.

Flowering summer; fruiting late summer–fall. Hammocks; 0–10 m; Fla.; s Mexico; West Indies.

The dark heartwood of Gyminda latifolia is heavy and hard. In the flora area, G. latifolia occurs in Miami-Dade and Monroe (Keys only) counties.