Psychotria marginata

Psychotria marginata is a tropical shrub in the gardenia family (Rubiaceae) and native to Central America.^[1]

Psychotria marginata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Rubiaceae
Genus:	Psychotria
Species:	P. marginata
Binomial name
Psychotria marginata Sw.
Synonyms
Myrstiphyllum marginatum (Sw.) Hitchc. (1893) Uragoga marginata (Sw.) Kuntze (1891) Psychotria nicaraguensis Benth. (1853) Uragoga nicaraguensis (Benth.) Kuntze (1891)

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs from southern Mexico into tropical South America and grows primarily in wet biomes.^[1]

Ecology

Leaves feature pits approximately 1 mm in width that offer habitat to aggressive mites which protect the leaves against other herbivorous species. Dry-season and wet-season leaves are superficially similar but have substantial physiological differences, as the former require only half as much water to create sugar.^[2]