Oxyanthus tubiflorus, commonly called the needle flower, is a shrub in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to Sierra Leone, Guinea and probably neighboring Liberia.[1] It is noteworthy for producing one of the skinniest flowers of any land (non-aquatic) plant, up to seven inches (17 centimeters) in length,[2] while only 1/16th inch (1.5 millimeters) in width; a length to width ratio of 112 fold. The leaves are opposite and 3 to seven inches (7 to 17 centimeters) long by 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 centimeters) wide. It is pollinated by a species of sphinx moth.
| Oxyanthus tubiflorus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Oxyanthus |
| Species: | O. tubiflorus
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| Binomial name | |
| Oxyanthus tubiflorus | |
| Synonyms | |
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References
edit- ^ "Oxyanthus tubiflorus (Andrews) DC". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ Bailey, Liberty Hyde, ed. (1935). Cyclopedia of Horticulture. New York: MacMillan and Co. p. Vol. 2 p. 2419.
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