Suriana

Suriana is a monotypic genus of flowering plants containing only Suriana maritima, which is commonly known as bay cedar.

Distribution
It has a pantropical distribution and can be found on coasts in the New and Old World tropics.

Description
Bay cedar is an evergreen shrub or small tree, usually reaching a height of 1 - 2 m and sometimes reaching 6 m. The leaves are alternate, simple, 1 - 6 cm long and 0.6 cm wide. The grey-green, succulent foliage yields an aroma similar to that of cedar when crushed, hence the common name. Its yellow flowers are solitary or in short cymes among the leaves. Flowers have a diameter of 1.5 cm when open, with petals 6 - 10 mm long and sepals 7 - 10 mm long. Bay cedar flowers throughout the year. After fertilisation, the flowers form clusters of five dry, hard drupes 3 - 4 mm in diameter. The drupes are buoyant and can maintain the viability of the seeds during long periods in seawater, allowing the seeds to be dispersed by the ocean.