Corkscrew Tree

Scientific name: Helicteres jamaicensis

POWO Status: Shrub or Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 57.94″ N, 64° 49′ 46.22″ W

20250730
20250829
20250829
20250827
20250820
20250820
20250820
20250716
20250716
20250709
20250705
20250705
20250705
20250702
20250628
20250628
20250628

Observations:

Phenological Markers – Corkscrew Tree (Helicteres jamaicensis)

Common Name: Jamaican Helicteres, Screw Pod
Scientific Name: Helicteres jamaicensis
Family: Malvaceae (formerly Sterculiaceae)
Native Range: Jamaica, Hispaniola, and other parts of the Caribbean
Habitat: Dry scrublands, forest edges, and rocky slopes

General Description:

Helicteres jamaicensis is a small, woody shrub with soft, hairy leaves and distinctive red to orange tubular flowers. It is best known for its unusual spiral-shaped seed pods, which give rise to the name “Screw Pod.” Traditionally used in Caribbean herbal medicine, this drought-tolerant plant adds both ecological and ethnobotanical value to dry tropical ecosystems.

Phenological Markers:

1. Flowering Period:

  • First Sign of Budding: Late spring (April – May)
  • Peak Bloom: Early to mid-summer (June – August)
  • End of Flowering: Late summer to early fall (September – October)
  • Flower Characteristics: Bright red or orange, tubular or bell-shaped, often nodding slightly; arranged singly or in small clusters

2. Leaf Growth and Senescence:

  • New Leaf Growth: Early spring (March – April)
  • Leaf Maturity: Late spring (May)
  • Leaf Senescence: Late fall (November – December), especially under dry conditions
  • Leaf Characteristics: Soft, ovate leaves with serrated margins; covered in fine hairs, giving a gray-green appearance

3. Fruit Production:

  • First Sign of Fruit Development: Mid to late summer (July – August)
  • Fruit Maturity: Fall (September – October)
  • End of Fruiting: Late fall (November)
  • Fruit Characteristics: Distinctive spiral-shaped capsules, turning brown as they mature; dry and woody when fully developed

4. Dormancy Period:

  • Dormancy Begins: Late fall (November – December), during the dry season or in cooler conditions
  • Dormancy Ends: Early spring (February – March)
  • Dormancy Characteristics: Reduced leaf cover, no flowering or fruiting, possible full dieback of above-ground stems in extreme drought

Ecological Notes:

  • Pollinators: Likely bees and small insects, though specific data is limited
  • Wildlife Interaction: Seed pods are not known to be eaten; the plant is more important as a nectar source
  • Soil Preferences: Dry, rocky, or sandy soils; thrives in open sun or light shade
  • Growth Habit: Low, shrubby, often sprawling or ascending; may reach 2–5 feet in height

Observational Guidelines:

  • Best Time for Observation: June through October for flowering and fruiting
  • Photography Tips:
    • Capture the unusual spiral fruits from multiple angles
    • Track flower color and leaf development throughout the dry season
    • Record early signs of dormancy, including stem dieback or leaf loss
  • Environmental Triggers: Rainfall patterns heavily influence flowering and fruiting; drought accelerates senescence
Scroll to Top