Cuban Buttercup

Like most other Turnera, this species is heterostylous, with two morphs. The "pin" morph has long styles in its flowers, while the "thrum" morph has short styles. Both morphs produce the same amount of pollen. One study reported that during pollination, pin flowers receive more pollen from thrum flowers than from other pin flowers. The genes that cause this dimorphism in style size are the subject of current research. So far, it has been established that short styles contain proteins, polygalacturonases, that are absent in long styles.

This plant, like other plants of the Turnera genus, is wildly used in traditional medicine for centuries, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. In South America, its leaf extract is used to treat many conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, tumors, influenza, chronic pain and inflammation. It is mainly used in the northeastern region of Brazil, where it is also used to treat amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, being consumed as tea or infusions. While little is known about its medicinal proprieties, the species has shown antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects in tests, as well as modulating the effects of some drugs.