Pigeon Berry

Scientific name: Bourreria succulenta

IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 57.62″ N, 64° 49′ 43.83″ W

Medicinal Uses

Bourreria succulenta, or Bahama Strongbark, is used medicinally in the Caribbean and beyond for fevers, diarrhea, pain, skin issues, and as a tonic for nerves, bladder, strength, and virility, often as teas from leaves or bark, sometimes mixed with other plants for specific ailments like back pain or STIs, with edible fruits also noted.

Common Medicinal Uses:

Fever & Pain: Used to treat fevers and general pain, including rheumatic pain.
Digestive Issues: Helps with diarrhea and stomach ailments.
Skin & Inflammation: Applied for skin infections, inflammations, wounds, and sores.
Tonic & Aphrodisiac: A key ingredient in strengthening teas and aphrodisiac preparations, sometimes mixed with rum in the Dutch Antilles, Bahamas, and Puerto Rico.
Nerves & Bladder: Used for nerve issues and weak bladders.
Specific Ailments: Roots used for gonorrhea and infertility; mixtures with other plants target thrush, back pain, and kidney problems.

Preparation Methods:

Teas/Decoctions: Leaves, twigs, or bark are boiled to make infusions or decoctions.
Topical: Roots can be crushed into a pulp for leprosy sores.
Blends: Often combined with plants like Tabebuia heterophylla (Fiddlewood) for pain or Capraria biflora (Ram Goat) for diarrhea.

Observations:

Phenological Markers – Bourreria succulenta (Pigeon Berry)

Family: Boraginaceae
Common Names: Strongbark, Smooth Strongbark, Poisonberry (less commonly), Chêne-petite-feuille (in French Caribbean)
Habitat: Native to the Caribbean, Bahamas, southern Florida, and parts of Central America. Found in dry coastal forests, rocky hillsides, thickets, and limestone woodlands—adapted to drought-prone and well-drained soils.

Phenological Markers:

Flowering Period:
Flowers intermittently year-round in tropical climates, but typically peaks in late winter through early summer (February to June). Flowers are small, white to pale yellow, funnel-shaped, and borne in clusters near leaf axils.
Fruiting Period:
Fruits begin developing soon after flowering and typically ripen in summer to early fall (June to September). The fruit is a small, orange to red drupe, about 1 cm in diameter, and highly attractive to birds.
Leaf Fall:
Evergreen, though some leaf drop may occur during prolonged drought or high winds, especially in exposed coastal areas.
Budding Period:
New growth and buds appear in early spring (March to May), often in response to seasonal rainfall and warming temperatures.

Key Features:

Leaves: Simple, alternate, oblong to elliptical, smooth-edged, bright green, slightly fleshy (succulent-like), and fragrant when crushed.
Flowers: Small, tubular, white to pale yellow, fragrant, typically pollinated by bees and other insects.
Fruits: Small, fleshy, orange to red berries when ripe; important food source for birds and small mammals.

Additional Notes:

In some cultures, it has been used in folk medicine, though not widely studied.

Despite the common name Strongbark, the plant has relatively soft wood but tough, resilient branches.

Often used in coastal restoration and native landscaping due to its drought tolerance, salt spray resistance, and wildlife value.

Flowers and fruit can appear simultaneously in favorable conditions.