Diagnostic description ²

Aristolochia oblongata Jacq. subsp. calceiformis (Urb.) R. Rankin & Acev.-Rodr., comb.nov.

Fig. 21. E-J

Basionym: Aristolochia calceiformis Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 300. 1899.

Synonyms: Aristolochia bilabiata sensu Pfeifer, non L.

Slightly woody vine, twining, 10-15 m in length. Stems subcylindrical, attaining 4 cm in diameter, the bark corky with numerous longitudinal furrows; cross section of the stem showing a xylem dissected by multicellular rays. Branches puberulous, sulcate. Leaves alternate; blades 5-13 × 2.4-3.6 cm, oblong, oblonglanceolate, or less frequently elliptical, chartaceous, venation reticulate, the apex obtuse or rounded, the base subcordiform or subtruncate, the margins entire, slightly revolute; upper surface glabrous, with some scattered resinous dots; lower surface with prominent venation, tomentulose; petioles 1-1.5 cm long, puberulous; pseudostipules reniform, 0.8-1 cm long. Flowers solitary or in axillary racemes; peduncle ca. 3 cm long; utricle ellipsoid, brown, ca. 1 cm long, geniculate at the base, the tube ca. 1.5 cm long, expanding toward the limb into an infundibuliform structure, subbilabiate, with two short lobes, of which the upper lobe is larger and folded, covering the throat after anthesis, the throat bright yellow, pubescent. Capsule ellipsoid or subglobose, 2-2.5 cm long; seeds membranaceous, triangular, ca. 5 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower in February, March, and September and in fruit from March to September and in December.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 157; 2207; 11436; 11642; Britton, N.L. 6781; Johnston, J.R. 923; Sintenis, P. 3056.

Distribution ³

Distribution: In moist forests at lower and middle elevations in the Cordillera Central and in the northern limestone zone. Also in Cuba and Hispaniola.

Public forest: Río Abajo.

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=10223136
2. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435090
3. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435668

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