Diagnostic description ³

Clusia gundlachii A. Stahl, Estud. 2: 122. 1884.

Fig. 60. A-G

Clambering shrub attaining 7 m in length, with abundant cream-colored latex. Trunk cylindrical, up to 10 cm in diameter at the base; branches pendulous, opposite, subcylindrical or slightly compressed, glabrous, with long, pendulous aerial roots. Leaves opposite; blades 5.5-10 × 2.1-6 cm, oblanceolate, elliptical, oval, or ovate, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex acute or obtuse, the base cuneiforme to obtuse, the margins entire, revolute; upper surface dark, slightly shiny, with the midvein yellowish; lower surface yellowish green, with a prominent midvein; petioles thick, 1-2 cm long. Flowers numerous, unisexual, arranged in dichasial cymes to form a terminal thyrse, as long as wide. Calyx green, crateriform, of 4 sepals, concave, rounded, in 2 series, the 2 outer sepals ca. 3 mm long, the inner ones ca. 4 mm long; corolla tubular, ellipsoid or ovoid, 2-3 mm long; staminate flowers with 10 stamens included within the corolla; pistillate flowers with sterile stamens, ovary urceolate, 4-5-locular, the stigmas sessile. In addition to the fertile inflorescences, this species produces sterile inflorescences, pendulous, much branched, with numerous green bracts, opposite and decussate along the axes. Capsule fleshy, ovoid or ellipsoid, 1.6-2 cm long, greenish, opening by 4-5 valves, each of which contains a row of minute, elliptical seeds, covered with a sticky orange matrix.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, rather common.

Commentary: This species, described by Dr. Agustín Stahl, was dedicated to Dr. Juan Gundlach, a German naturalist resident in Cuba, who had visited Puerto Rico in 1873 and in 1875-76. This species is superficially similar to Clusia minor L., which can be distinguished from C. gundlachii by the following key.

1a. Clambering shrub with long, pendulous branches; leaves oblanceolate, elliptical, oval, or ovate, the apex acute or less frequently obtuse; flowers functionally unisexual, the pistillate ones with staminodia; corolla tubular, ellipsoid or ovoid, 2-3 mm long, closed at the apex to form a calyptra; fruit ovoid or ellipsoid………..………………….....…C. gundlachii

1b. Erect shrub; leaves oblanceolate or spathulate, the apex rounded or obtuse; flowers hermaphroditic or pistillate (the latter with a resinous ring in place of the staminodia); corolla of free petals, rounded, ca. 1.5 cm long; fruit ovoid or subglobose..........……C. minor

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2188; 3007; 7929; 9318; 10634; 10865; 11443; Britton, N.L. 4214; 6374; Eggers, B. 1231; Howard, R.A. 16830; Liogier, A.H. 10011; 10096; Little, E.L. 16328; Maguire, B. 60022; Sargent, F.H. 657; Shafer, J.A. 2259; 3174; 3284; 3550; Sintenis, P. 350; 351; 1529; Underwood, L.M. 404.

Distribution ⁴

Distribution: Principally in moist forests along the Cordillera Central and the Sierra de Luquillo, but extending toward the dry forests of the south coast.

Public forest: Carite, El Yunque, Guánica, Guilarte, Maricao, Río Abajo, Susúa, and Toro Negro.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/services/media.php?env=botany&irn=10350957
2. (c) Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/services/media.php?env=botany&irn=10350956
3. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435208
4. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435742

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