This rare Puerto Rican tree is the Violet Tree, Phlebotaenia cowellii.

Its common name comes from its attractive violet to bluish-purple flowers. When the tree is in bloom, the blossoms can give parts of the crown a distinctly purple appearance.

The flowers have an unusual shape typical of the milkwort family, Polygalaceae. Rather than forming a simple open blossom, the petals and petal-like sepals create a more intricate structure that rewards a closer look.

The tree has smooth gray bark and simple, leathery leaves. Mature specimens can become substantial forest trees, although the species is considered uncommon in the wild.

Violet Tree is native only to Puerto Rico, where it grows mainly in limestone forests at low to middle elevations. Its limited distribution and the continued loss or disturbance of its habitat make its conservation especially important.

The species was named in honor of John Francis Cowell, a botanist who helped collect some of the first flowering specimens known to science.

This may not be one of the best-known Caribbean trees, but its violet flowers, restricted natural range, and rarity make it a particularly valuable part of the Garden’s collection.