Diagnostic description ⁵

Combretum indicum (L.) Jongkind, Fl. Gabon 35: 48. 1999.

Basionym: Quisqualis indica L.

Fig. 61. E-G

Twining liana, attaining 6 m in length. Stem much branched from the base; branches cylindrical, somewhat compressed in the area of the nodes, glabrous or puberulous, usually with the pith hollow; adult stems deciduous, with 3 persistent spines at the nodes. Leaves opposite or subopposite; blades 6-17.5 × 2.2-7 cm, elliptical, oblong, or lanceolate, chartaceous, the apex acuminate, the base rounded, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous, with a prominent midvein; lower surface ferruginous-tomentulose or puberulous, with prominent venation; petioles 5-12 mm long. Flowers sessile or subsessile, in terminal spikes or racemes on short lateral branches. Hypanthium green, tubular, 4-6.5 mm long, pubescent; sepals green, triangular, ca. 2 mm long; petals 5, oblong or oblanceolate, 1-1.5 cm long, pink, turning red when mature; stamens exserted, the filaments unequal; disc absent; style exserted. Fruit elliptical in outline, angular, with 5 narrow wings, ca. 3 cm long.

Phenology: Flowering from July to March.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7140; 11217; 11493; Heller, A.A. 974; Sintenis, P. 996; 5134; Stevenson, J.A. 54.

Distribution ⁶

Distribution: Ornamental plant, native to tropical Asia, naturalized along roadsides. Also on St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas.

Public forest: Río Abajo.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Forest & Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/55979.jpg
2. (c) Forest & Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/55978.jpg
3. (c) Ahmad Fuad Morad, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/5920626495_ae911dd318.jpg
4. (c) Stefan Dressler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.westafricanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=14&id=394
5. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435211
6. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435744

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