Black Mampoo

Scientific name: Guapira fragrans

POWO Status: Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 59.72″ N, 64° 49′ 49.71″ W

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Observations:

Phenologocal Markers – Black Mampoo (Guapira fragrans)

Scientific Name: Guapira fragrans
Common Names: Black Mampoo, Sweet Mampoo, Fragrant Guapira
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Native Range: Florida, Bahamas, Greater and Lesser Antilles, including U.S. Virgin Islands
Habitat: Dry to moist coastal forests, limestone hills, and thickets

Leaf Phenology

  • New Leaf Emergence: Generally coincides with the rainy season; new leaves emerge in flushes, often a paler green.
  • Leaf Persistence: Evergreen to semi-deciduous; retains most foliage year-round but may thin during dry periods.
  • Leaf Drop: Older leaves may yellow and drop prior to new growth; more pronounced during drought stress or seasonal dry spells.

Flowering Phenology

  • Flower Type: Small, inconspicuous, pale green to white flowers, often fragrant; usually borne in clusters at branch tips or leaf axils.
  • Flowering Period: Late spring through early fall (commonly May–September), though can vary based on rainfall.
  • Pollination Mechanism: Likely moth or bee-pollinated, given the fragrance and night-blooming tendencies reported in related species.

Fruiting Phenology

  • Fruit Type: Fleshy, single-seeded drupe; starts green and matures to dark red or purple-black.
  • Fruit Development: Follows flowering by a few weeks; ripens through late summer to early winter.
  • Dispersal Mechanism: Bird-dispersed; ripe fruits are eaten by frugivores which help spread the seeds.
  • Seasonality: Fruiting is seasonal but can overlap flowering during wetter months.

Observational Notes

  • Growth Habit: Small tree or large shrub, up to 10–15 feet tall, with a dense, rounded crown and smooth, gray bark.
  • Phenology Triggers: Rainfall and humidity are major drivers of flowering and fruiting. Coastal populations may respond to subtle seasonal cues.
  • Observation Tips: Note timing of flower appearance and fruit color changes; record leaf flushes as indicators of seasonal cycles. Look for frugivore activity (e.g., birds) during fruiting as a sign of dispersal.
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