Serpentine Manjack

Individuals of this species are arching to erect shrub of about 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) high The shrub is composed of long slender twigs with short hairs lining the twigs. The leaves of the shrub are alternate in pattern, oblong in shape, and 2–6 cm (0.79–2.4 in) in length, and roughly 2.5 to 3 times longer than wide. This is also a flowering species of shrub. The fruit of this plant is a pointed drupe, 5 millimeters in length. The white axillary flowers are unisexual and the plants are either male or female. The fruit is a drupe that turns red when ripe. The fruit usually develops between November and February.

Varronia bellonis is a plant specialized in surviving on the serpentine soils of Puerto Rico. The shrub is typically found either on sunny banks along dirt roads growing in thickets of vegetation or in open saddles between limestone hills. The shrub is also known to inhabit sheer ravines and intermittent streams. Because this species is limited to specific geology types, the plant is therefore limited to an extent on the western half of the Island.

Varronia bellonis is a serpentine plant that grows in serpentine soil, mainly consisting of minerals like antigorite, lizardite, and chrysotile or white asbestos. All of which are common on the volcanic island of Puerto Rico. The Maricao forest soils are primarily serpentine. This species of shrub exists at elevations ranges between 150 and 875 meters (492 and 2,871 ft) V. bellonis is also found in regions with average annual rainfall between 1,339 and 2,606 mm (52.7 and 102.6 in) of rain during the rainy season, as well as a relatively dry season occurring between December through March. The average temperature ranges 21.7–25.5 °C (71.1–77.9 °F). In addition to the Maricao forest, the Río Abajo State Forest and the Susua State forest have shown to be sanctuaries for the ideal growth of this endangered shrub.