Exostema purpureum is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is a shrub or tree with thickly leathery leaves, purple flowers, and capsule fruits. The species is native to Cuba.
Exostema purpureum was described in 1866, and is listed as of Least Concern by the IUCN.
Taxonomy Exostema purpureum was described by August Grisebach in 1866. The type locality is near Baracoa.
Distribution Exostema purpureum is native to the wet tropical biome of eastern Cuba. It grows in dry watercoures, thickets, forests, and shrublands.
Description Exostema purpureum is a shrub or tree that grows high. The branches are stout, and grey or brown in colour.
The leaf stems are long. The leaves are lanceolate, oblong, ovate, or elliptical in shape. The leaves are long, wide, and thickly leathery.
The hypanthium is ellipsoid, and long. The calyx has five triangular lobes. The corolla is around long, purple on the outside, and rose-coloured on the inside.
The fruit is a smooth, ellipsoid capsule, measuring around long.
Conservation In 2023, the IUCN listed Exostema purpureum as of Least Concern.
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