Vines and Climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Passiflora sexflora Juss., Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 6: 110, t. 37, f. 1. 1805.

Fig. 136. C-G.

Herbaceous vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 6 m in length. Stems slender, pubescent, almost cylindrical or angular, attaining 4 mm in diameter. Leaves alternate, simple, bilobate or less frequently with a third (short) lobe in a central position, 6-8(10) × 3.5-14 cm, chartaceous, with three main veins that are borne from the base, the lobes acute, divergent, the apex of the blade forming a central lobe, more or less deep, rounded, mucronate, the base subcordiform, the margins entire; upper surface pubescent, especially on the veins; lower surface with the veins prominent, pubescent; petioles 2-3 cm long, pubescent, with a violet tonality, without glands; stipules subulate, 3-5 mm long; tendrils axillary, simple, pubescent, ca. 6 cm long. Flowers minute, in axillary cymes; peduncles pubescent, 5-7 mm long; pedicels ca. 7 mm long, pubescent. Sepals yellowish green, 8-15 mm long, lanceolate, abaxially pubescent; petals 5, whitish, 8-9 × 2 mm, linear; corona biseriate, the filaments white with mulberry-colored bands, 5-8 mm long; stamens 5; stigmas subglobose. Fruit a depressedglobose berry, dark violet, pubescent, 5-8 mm in diameter. Seeds numerous, ca. 2 mm long, depressed-ovoid, rugulose.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from September to May.

Status: Native, relatively common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2679; 3752; 7847; 9320; 9446; 10761; 10869; Axelrod, F. 5338; 6137; Britton, N.L. 450; 1398; 2019; 2607; 2756; Cowles, H.T. 141; Goll, G.P. 440; Heller, A.A. 4475; Howard, R.A. 16942; Sargent, F.H. 322; 599; Wetmore 209.
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Passiflora suberosa L., Sp. Pl. 958. 1753.

Fig. 137. A-E

Synonym: Passiflora pallida L.

Non-woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 1-3 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, pubescent or glabrous, usually with a reddish tinge; mature stems with 4 longitudinal wings, of cork or corky material. Leaves alternate, chartaceous, glabrous, 4-15 × 4-10 cm, extremely variable in form, trilobate, lanceolate, ovate, linear, or elliptical, with 3 or 5 main veins that are borne from the base, the lobes more or less deep, oblong, ovate to almost linear, the central lobe longer than the lateral ones, the apex obtuse or acute, the base cordiform, rounded, or obtuse, sometimes peltate, the margins slightly revolute, ciliate; upper surface shiny, glabrous or puberulent; lower surface glabrous or pubescent, with slightly prominent venation; petioles 15-20 mm long, glabrous or pubescent, sulcate, reddish, with a pair of minute glands above the middle; tendrils axillary, simple, glabrous; stipules filiform, ca. 5 mm. Flowers erect, solitary or in pairs, axillary; pedicels articulate, 15-20 mm long; bracts absent. Sepals 5, lanceolate, 8-13 mm long, green outside, whitish or light green on the inner surface; petals absent; corona biseriate, the segments mulberry-colored, shorter than the sepals; gynophore cylindrical, ca. 5 mm long; stamens 5, green, ascendent; ovary ellipsoid, green, the styles reflexed, the stigmas capitate. Fruit an ovoid or ellipsoid berry, 10-12 mm long, dark violet when ripe. Seeds numerous, ellipsoid, ca. 3 mm long, covered by a green pulp.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 614; 630; 639; 898; 2063; 2330; 2434; 3006; 3133; 4075; 4302; 5196; 6958; 10498; 11374; 11474; 11510; Britton, N.L. 38; 5030; Fosberg, F.R. 57550; Goll, G.P. 185; 311; 331; 409; 634; Heller, A.A. 6068; Prey, N. 80; Sargent, F.H. 3208; Shafer, J.A. 2506; 2788; Sintenis, P. 644; 811; 1687; 3488; 5114; Stevenson, J.A. 1856; Underwood, L.M. 472; 601.
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Passiflora bilobata Juss., Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 6: 107. 1805.

Fig. 132. E-I

Herbaceous vine, attainig 0.5-2 m in length and climbs by means of axillary tendrils. Stems slender, angular, striate, glabrous or puberulent. Leaves alternate, in the form of a horseshoe or a ‘v’, with three main veins, coriaceous, with two divergent lobes, forming an angle of 45-93° between the, the lobes oblanceolate, oblong, or linear, 2.2-6.5 × 0.4-1.4 cm, with rounded or acuminate apices, the base cuneate or rounded, the margin undulate, revolute; upper surface puberulent; lower surface glabrous, with prominent venation; petioles 3-5 mm long, canaliculate, without glands; stipules filiform, ca. 4 mm long; tendrils simple, filamentous. Flowers axillary, in pairs; the bracts subulate, not forming an involucre; peduncle ca. 10 mm long, articulated near the apex. Sepals oblong, green, 4-6 mm long; petals pale green, oblong, as long as the sepals; corona of two series of filiform filaments, pale green, as long as the sepals; gynophore ca. 2 mm long, tubular; stamens 5; ovary claviform, the styles recurved, the stigmas capitate. Fruit a fleshy berry, ovoid or globose, 1-1.4 cm long, almost black, dull. Seeds numerous, elliptical, ca. 2.3 mm long, with transverse striae.

Phenology: Collected in flower in October and January and in fruit in January.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7681; 7755; 7762; 11422.
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Passiflora laurifolia L., Sp. Pl. 956. 1753.

Fig. 133. H-I

Woody vine, glabrous, attainig 2-5(-10) m in length and climbs by means of axillary tendrils. Young parts with a reddish tinge. Stems cylindrical, flexible. Leaves alternate, glabrous, coriaceous, 6.6-12 × 3.7-6.6 cm, oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, not lobate, the apex rounded or obtuse, sometimes mucronate or shortapiculate, the base almost cordiform, truncate to almost rounded, the margins entire; lower surface pale green, with the midvein prominent; petioles 0.7-2.5 cm long, reddish, with a pair of globose glands in the area where they join the blade; stipules filiform, 8-10 mm long, glandular at the apex; tendrils simple. Flowers solitary, pendulous, axillary, subtended by a persistent involucre of 3 ovate bracts, 2.5-4 cm long, with the margins serrate-glandular; peduncle 2-3.2 cm long. Sepals oblong-elliptical, 3-4 cm long, violet-pink on the inner surface, green externally, with a dorsal keel that projects beyond the apex; petals oblong, white, with numerous violet dots on the inner surface, 3.5-4 cm long; corona multiseriate, the segments filiform, with violet bands, shorter than the petals; gynophore cylindrical, yellow, ca. 1 cm long; stamens 5; ovary ellipsoid, yellow, the styles curved, the stigmas capitate-bilobate. Fruit a coriaceous berry, ellipsoid, 4-6 cm long, green, with numerous yellow dots, with the involucre persistent at the base. Seeds numerous, elliptictriangular, foveate, cream-colored, covered by a juicy yellow matrix.

Phenology: Collected in flower from June to August and in fruit in July and August.

Status: Apparently exotic, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 927; 929; 1924; 2856; 5104; 5169; 5355; 11478; Sintenis, P. 1890.
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Marcgravia sintenisii Urb., Jahrb. Bot. Gart. Berlin 4: 245. 1886.

Fig. 124. H-K

Plant with the juvenile phase morphologically different from the adult phase. Juvenile plant ca. 1 m in length, sparsely branched, climbing by means of adventitious roots; stems flattened; leaves 1.5-2 cm long, cordiform to almost rounded, with the margin crenate, very closely spaced. Adult plant developing into a woody vine, with scandent and pendulous branches, attainig 5-10 m in length. Stems cylindrical, 2-5 cm in diameter. Leaves alternate, changing from reddish to green when mature, 4.5-9 × 1.3-4 cm, coriaceous, elliptical, lanceolate, or oblong, the base obtuse to rounded, the apex acute or obtuse, the margins revolute; upper surface dark green, dull; lower surface light green, dull, with numerous scattered black dots, the midvein prominent; petioles 4-5 mm long. Inflorescence an umbelliform raceme with about 50 flowers and 7-9 reddish nectaries in a central position, 1.8-2 × 1-1.2 cm; pedicels geniculate, 1.5-3.5 cm long, with few lenticels; bracts minute, opposite, not near the flower. Calyx reddish, of 4 rounded sepals, ca. 2 mm long; corolla calyptrate, 3-5 mm long, reddish or green with an orange tinge, deciduous; stamens 10-11; ovary light orange, the stigma green. Fruit globose, reddish, ca. 1 cm in diameter, fleshy. Seeds numerous, ca. 1 mm long, pink or green.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from April to December.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2958; 7114; Britton, N.L. 2169; Howard, R.A. 16813; Liogier, A.H. 10028; Nieves 1573; Shafer, J.A. 3310; 3645; Sintenis, P. 2222; 4320; Webster, G.L. 8710.
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Plumbago scandens L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 215. 1762.

Fig. 140. A-F

Slightly woody shrub, scandent, with numerous basal or lateral branches, attaining 2-3 m in length. Stems cylindrical, striate, glabrous. Leaves alternate, chartaceous, 3-13 × 1-6 cm, ovate, oblong-lanceolate, spathulate, or oblanceolate, the apex acute, acuminate, or obtuse, the base obtuse, rounded, cuneate, or attenuate, sometimes unequal, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous; lower surface with lepidote dots; petioles 5-10 mm long. Inflorescences of terminal panicles, up to 30 cm long; peduncles glabrous, striate, sparsely covered with sessile glands; bracteoles elliptical, ca. 2 mm long; pedicels ca. 1 cm long. Calyx green, 7-11 mm long, the ribs with sticky stipitate glands; corolla white, hypocrateriform, the tube 1.2-2 cm long, the lobes 0.5-1 cm long, obovate, mucronate; stamens exserted, the anthers pale violet. Fruit an oblong capsule, covered by the persistent calyx and sticky.

Phenology: Collected in flower from January to August.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, common in our gardens.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 627; 1893; 2462; 5341.
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Doliocarpus brevipedicellatus Garcke, Linnaea 22: 47. 1849.

Fig. 90. A-J

Twining liana attainig 5 m or more in length. Branches angular, appressed-pubescent. Leaves 5-16 × 2.5-8 cm, lanceolate or less frequently elliptic-lanceolate, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, the upper surface pilose on the primary vein, the lower surface strigose on the secondary veins, the apex acuminate, the base cuneate or rounded, the margins deeply dentate-mucronate; petioles 0.5-1.2 cm long, strigose. Inflorescences fasciculate, racemose, with 3-5 flowers; peduncles and pedicels appressed-pubescent. Calyx of 4-5 unequal sepals, pilose outside, the outer ones 1.5-2 mm long, lanceolate, the inner ones 3-3.5 mm long, ovate-elliptical; petals 2-3 mm long, white; stamens 25-40; pistil glabrous. Capsules 4-7 mm in diameter, irregularly dehiscent. Seed one.

Phenology: Collected in flower in March.

Status: Native, uncommon in Puerto Rico.

Commentary: This species was treated by Liogier (1994) in his “Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands, Vol. 3” as a synonym of Doliocarpus major Gmel. This error was initiated by Hunter in 1965, but corrected by Kubitzki in 1971. Doliocarpus major is a South American species that is distinguished from D. brevipedicellatus, among other things, by having longer inflorescences and papillae on the lower surface of the leaves.
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Iresine angustifolia Euphrasén, Beskr. Ste. Barthél. 165.1795.

Fig. 17. A-F

Synonyms:Iresine elatior Rich. ex Willd.

Iresine celosioides Sw.

Herb, clambering or less frequently creeping, or sometimes a subshrub attainig 2 m in length, much branched from a woody base. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, with the nodes somewhat swollen. Leaves opposite; blades 2-13 × 0.5-4.5 cm, lanceolate, chartaceous, the apex short or long-acuminate, the base obtuse or acute, usually unequal, the margins entire, slightly revolute; upper surface glabrous or puberulous; lower surface dull, with prominent venation; petioles slender, 0.5-2 cm long. Flowers bisexual, in terminal panicles, up to 30 cm long; bracts and bracteoles lanceolate, with a dorsal keel and the apex aristate, the bracteoles of the same size as the tepals. Tepals 5, white to greenish, elliptical, ca. 1.5 mm long, with a tuft of undulate hairs at the base; stamens 5; stigma bifid. Capsule subglobose, membranaceous, ca. 1 mm long; seeds black, shiny, subglobose, 0.8-1 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 779; 2469;2568; 2726; 3122; 3890; 6979; 10658; Raunkiaer, C. s.n.
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Celosia nitida Vahl, Symb. Bot. 2: 44. 1791.

Fig. 16. A-E

Herb or subshrub, erect or sometimes clambering, 0.5-1 m in length, with numerous branches that are borne on a woody base. Branches cylindrical, glabrous, striate. Leaves alternate; blades 2-6 × 1-3 (4) cm, deltate-lanceolate or lanceolate, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex acute, the base unequal, truncate, abruptly narrowed toward the petiole, the margins entire or slightly undulate; upper surface dull, with numerous whitish dots; petioles slender, 1-1.5 cm long. Flowers arranged in terminal, simple or branched spikes, 2-10 cm long; bracts and bracteoles triangular, with a hyaline margin. Tepals whitish with the apex somewhat reddish, oblonglanceolate, ca. 4 mm long, glabrous; stamens 5, the filaments compressed, united at the base to form a short staminal tube; ovary ovoid, the stigmas 3, ca. 2 mm long. Capsule subglobose, somewhat compressed, ca. 3 mm long; seeds 9-19, dark brown, shiny, ca. 1.2 mm long, lenticular, naked.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1807; 4358; 6988; 11080; 11293; Britton, N.L. 132; 1956; 5033; Heller, A.A. 6424; Johnston, J.R. 1246; Sargent, F.H. 3211; Shafer, J.A. 2756; Sintenis, P. 615; 3024; 3444; Velez, I. 3086a.
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Chamissoa altissima (Jacq.) Kunth in Humb. Bonpl. & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. (quarto ed.) 2: 197. 1817.

Fig. 1. D, 16. F-K

Basionym: Achyranthes altissima Jacq.

Liana or woody shrub, clambering, 3-15 m in length, with numerous pendulous branches. Stems angular when young and cylindrical when mature, up to 3 cm in diameter, glabrous; cross section of the stem with bands of vascular tissue alternating with very narrow bands of parenchymatous tissue. Leaves alternate; blades 8-14 × 3-7 cm, elliptical, ovate, or elliptic-ovate, chartaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base rounded, the margins undulate; upper surface slightly shiny, puberulous; lower surface pale green, dull, with prominent venation; petioles slender, usually reddish, 2-4.5 cm long. Flowers in terminal panicles, 4-16 cm long. Perianth white to greenish, with five ovate tepals, concave, acute, ca. 3 mm long, glabrous; stamens 5; stigma bifid. Capsule ovoid, truncate at the apex, membranaceous, turning from green to white, 3-4 mm long; seeds dark brown, shiny, completely covered by a white arillode.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3738; 7050; 7730; 7849; 9410; 11872; Axelrod, F. 10982; Heller, A.A. 545; 4521; 6197; Johnston, J.R. 1130; Sargent, F.H. 82; 461; 704; Sintenis, P. 264; 2139; 5892; 6357; Stevenson, J.A. 1130.
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Iresine diffusa Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd., Sp. Pl. 4: 765. 1805.

Fig. 17. J-L

Synonyms: Iresine paniculata (L.) Kuntze

Iresine celosioides L.

Iresine celosia L.

Herb or subshrub, clambering or less frequently creeping, 1-3 m in length, much branched from the woody base. Stems glabrous or pubescent, with the nodes compressed, usually pilose. Leaves opposite; blades 3-9 (-11) × 1-5 cm, lanceolate or ovate, chartaceous, the apex acute or obtuse, the base obtuse, acute, or truncate, the margins slightly undulate and revolute; upper surface dull, puberulous or glabrous; lower surface dull, pubescent or glabrous, with prominent venation; petioles slender, 0.5-3.0 cm long. Flowers unisexual, in terminal or axillary panicles, pendulous, 7-15 cm long, the axes pubescent or glabrous; bracts and bracteoles not keeled, acute or short-acuminate at the apex, the bracteoles smaller than the tepals. Tepals creamcolored or whitish; ovate or oblong, with a tuft of undulate hairs at the base, 0.5-0.8 mm long in the staminate flowers, oblong, 0.9-1.1 mm long in the pistillate flowers; stamens 5, the filaments unequal. Capsule ellipsoid, membranaceous, ca. 1 mm long; seeds reddish brown, shiny.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from September to May.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 118; 7852; 9487; 9494; Britton, N.L. 1444; Goll, G.P. 600; 622; Heller, A.A. 349; Morton, C.V. 5740; Sargent, F.H. 221; Sintenis, P. 303; 2422; 5844; Stevenson, J.A. 2410; Underwood, L.M. 342; 457.
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Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn., Bot. Beechey Voy. 308, t. 69. 1838.

Fig. 142. G-M

Slightly woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 5-13 m in length. Stems puberulent, pentagonal, with many lateral branches. Leaves alternate, ovate, triangularovate, or almost lanceolate, chartaceous, 5-14.5 × 2-7 cm, the apex acute or acuminate, the base cordiform or truncate, the margins crenulate, sometimes ciliate; upper surface light green, slightly shiny, puberulent, with the venation sunken; lower surface pale green, dull, puberulent or glabrous, with prominent venation; petioles 1-5 cm long, reddish, puberulent, cylindrical or subwinged. Flowers bisexual, in axillary racemes or terminal panicles, 10-20 cm long, puberulent, terminating in a pair of spiral tendrils; pedicels 3-4(-10) mm long. Perianth 4-7 mm long, of 5 ovate or elliptical tepals, intense pink or white; staminal column 2-3 mm long, of the same color as the tepals. Achene ovoid, 5-8 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year, although more predominantly from June to December.

Status: Exotic, naturalized, locally very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1811; 5267; 11265; 11468; Goll, G.P. 75; 648; Sargent, F.H. s.n.; Shafer, J.A. 2706; Sintenis, P. 953; Stevenson, J.A. 530.
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Antigonon guatemalense Meissn. in Dc., Prodr. 14: 184. 1856.

Fig. 142. A-F

Synonyms: Antigonon macrocarpum Britton & Small

Antigonon grandiflorum (Bertol) B.L. Rob.

Slightly woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 5-10 m in length. Stems puberulent, pentagonal. Leaves alternate, ovate, broadly ovate, or ovate-triangular, chartaceous, 5-9.5 × 3.2-7.7 cm, the apex obtuse or acute, mucronate, the base cordiform, the margins crenulate; upper surface pubescent, dull, with the venation flat; lower surface tomentose, with prominent venation; petioles 8-10 mm long, tomentose, almost cylindrical. Flowers bisexual, in groups of 4-5 flowers, in axillary racemes or terminal panicles, the racemes 15-22 cm long, the axes densely pubescent with septate trichomes, the distal portion of the axis twisting like a tendril; pedicels 1.5-2 cm, articulated near the middle, the basal portion persistent, sometimes twisted like a tendril. Perianth pink, in two unequal series, the outer ones circular, 2.6-3.2 cm long, the base sagittate, with overlapping sinuses, the inner ones ca. 1.5 cm long, ovate; staminal column ca. 2 mm long. Achene ellipsoid, ca. 1.2 cm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower during November.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and spontaneous (according to Liogier, 1985).
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Melothria pendula L., Sp. Pl. 35. 1753.

Fig. 86. A-F

Synonyms: Bryonia guadalupensis Spreng.

Melothria guadalupensis (Spreng.) Cogn.

Herbaceous vine, much branched, which climbs by tendrils, attaining 1-2 (4) m in length. Stems slender, 2-3 mm in diameter, green, slightly striate, puberulous and with some minute hairs; tendrils axillary, simple, filiform, 6-9 cm long. Leaves alternate; blades ovate or 3-5-lobed, membranaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, mucronate, the base lyrate or cordiform, the margins crenate, repand, or denticulate; upper surface green, shiny, scabrid, with the venation flat; lower surface light green, dull, scabrid, with the venation slightly prominent; petioles shorter than the blade, sulcate. Staminate and pistillate flowers in the same raceme; peduncles 2-3 cm long. Calyx yellowish green, campanulate, ca. 5 mm long; corolla pale yellow, campanulate, ca. 5 mm long, with 5 deep lobes; stamens subsessile, adnate to the corolla tube, the anthers free, the pistil with an annular disc at the base. Berry ovoid, smooth, 1.5-1.8 cm long, olive green when ripe; seeds numerous, elliptical or ovate, ca. 5 mm long, not arillate.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2413; 5430; Britton, N.L. 1668; 2062; Goll, G.P. 180; 327; 328; 351; 608; 873; 874; Kuntze, C.E.O. 376; Sintenis, P. 897; Stevenson, J.A. 1797; Underwood, L.M. 35; 207; 349.
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Passiflora murucuja L., Sp. Pl. 957. 1753.

Fig. 134. G-J

Slightly woody vine, glabrous, attainig 2-5 m in length and climbs by means of axillary tendrils. Stems angular, striate. Leaves alternate, bilobate (in the form of a boomerang), with the lateral lobes 1.5-2 times longer than the apex, these up to 4 cm long, rounded and retuse at the apex, forming an angle of divergence of 108-160° between them (sometimes the central apex projecting like a small lobe), chartaceous, with 3 main veins from the base, the base cuneate, obtuse. or rounded, the margins entire; upper surface dull, glabrous; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous, with prominent venation and a line of circular glands along the acroscopic side of the lobes; petioles 1-1.5 cm long, glabrous, without glands; stipules linearfiliform, 2-4 mm long; tendrils simple. Flowers solitary or in pairs, axillary; peduncle 1-2.5 cm long, glabrous, articulated below the middle; bracts minute, below the articulation of the peduncle. Calyx tubular, brilliant red, 3-4 cm long, the sepals oblong, connate at the base; petals long-deltate, brilliant red, 1-2 cm long; corona tubular, brilliant red, 1-1.5 cm long, crenate or entire at the apex; stamens 5; ovary ovoid, glabrous. Fruit a fleshy berry, globose, 1-1.5 cm in diameter, black-purple when ripe. Seeds numerous, ovate, transversely sulcate, ca. 2.5 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, extremely rare in Puerto Rico.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7032; 10817; Stevens, F.L. 1818.
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Passiflora tulae Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 374. 1899.

Fig. 137. F-H

Slightly woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 4-5 m in length. Stems slender, angular, green or mulberry-colored, striate, glabrous or puberulent on the younger portions. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, semicircular or semielliptical, sometimes in the form of a boomerang, 3-8 × 2.5-9 cm, with three main veins that are borne from the base, the apex more or less truncate, with two or three rounded lobes, the base rounded, the margins sinuate; upper surface dark green, shiny, glabrous, with the veins sunken; lower surface pale green, dull, puberulent, with prominent venation, with a row of circular glands on each side of the midvein; petioles 1.5- 3 cm long, cylindrical, smooth, not glandular; tendrils axillary, simple, longer than the leaves. Flowers solitary or in pairs on an axillary peduncle, 3-5 cm long; sepals 5, oblong, 3-4 × 0.7 cm, pink-violet; petals ca. 3 cm long, oblong, of the same color as the sepals; corona tubular, orange, ca. 1.5 cm long; gynophore ca. 3 cm long. Fruit a globose or ellipsoid berry, green, 1-2 cm long, with the sepals persistent at the base.

Phenology: Flowering from December to April and fruiting from February to June.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, not very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3751; 10537; 11456; Britton, N.L. 937; 2588; 5539; Liogier, A.H. 28444; Sintenis, P. 4176; 5278.
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Psiguria ottoniana (Schltdl.) C. Jeffrey, Kew Bull. 33: 352. 1978.

Fig. 87. A-B

Basionym: Anguria ottoniana Schltdl.

Herbaceous vine, attaining 3 m in length and climbing by axillary tendrils. Stems slender, glabrous; tendrils simple, filiform, ca. 15 cm long. Leaves alternate; blades 9-17 × 8-17 cm, deeply 3-5-lobed, glabrous, the lobes acute or acuminate, mucronate, the base deeply cordiform, the margins entire, bidentate toward the apex of the lobe; petioles ca. 3.5 cm long, slender, glabrous. Staminate flowers 3-8, in axillary racemes; peduncle longer than the accompanying leaf; calyx green, cylindrical, slightly dilated at the base, the lobes lanceolate-acuminate; corolla orange, the lobes oblong, acute at the apex, puberulous outside; anthers subulate. Pistillate flowers and fruits unknown.

Phenology: Unknown.

Status: Native, known from Puerto Rico from a single collection (Plée 42) at the beginning of the 19th century. This collection was identified by Cogniaux, in his time a specialist in the Cucurbitaceae, and is found deposited in the Museum of Natural History in Paris.
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Hylocereus trigonus (Haw.) Saff., Annual Rep. Board Regents Smithsonian Inst. 1908: 553. 1909.

Fig. 54. A-C

Basionym: Cereus trigonus Haw.

Much branched vine, which climbs by aerial roots and attains 10 m in length. Stems fleshy, 1.4-2 cm wide, lenticellate, triangular, with 3 or 4 prominent, undulate, longitudinal ribs, with a group of spines on each of the protuberances that are found along the margin; spines conical, 4-7 mm long, grayish or brown, usually in groups of 8. Flowers solitary, pendulous, 20-24 cm long, axillary to the group of spines or terminal on the branches; perianth infundibuliform; outer tepals fleshy, green, the basal ones ovate, ca. 2 cm long, the distal ones oblong, 3.5-7.5 cm long, the inner tepals white, turning yellowish when mature. Berries ovoid, pink-purple, 12-14 × 5-7 cm, with tepals of the hypanthium persistent; seeds numerous, minute, black, covered with a white gelatinous matrix.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from July to December.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2874; 5091; 7042; 11250; Britton, N.L. 1583; 1860; 1931; 2305; Hioram, B. 12; Shafer, J.A. 2834.
less ↑

Pereskia aculeata Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. 1768.

Fig. 55. A-E

Clambering shrub or liana attaining 15 m in length, much branched from a woody base. Stems woody, dark brown, cylindrical, without ribs, 2-3 cm in diameter, with numerous areoles; spines dimorphic, up to 1.5 cm long, usually deciduous; branches scandent or pendulous. Leaves alternate, persistent; blades 4-7 × 1.5-5 cm, lanceolate, ovate, or oblong, fleshy, glabrous, the apex shortacuminate, the base cuneate or rounded, the margins entire; upper and lower surface glabrous; petioles 3-7 mm long, with a pair of stipular spines, recurved at the base. Flowers few, in terminal racemes; hypanthium crateriform, with several bracteoles and areoles with acicular spines. Tepals white, 2.5-3 cm long; stamens numerous, in two series, yellow; ovary inferior. Berry yellow or orange, globose, ca. 2 cm in diameter, with several bracteoles and persistent spines; seeds few, 4-5 mm wide, lenticular or rounded, dark brown.

Phenology: Collected in flower in October and in fruit in January and February.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 4267; Gregory 209; Shafer, J.A. 2563.
less ↑

Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sarg., Silva 7: 64. 1895.

Fig. 157. A-G

Basionym: Rhamnus iguanaeus Jacq.

Synonyms: Momisia iguanaea (Jacq.) Rose & Standl.

Celtis aculeata Sw.

Scandent shrub or liana that climbs by means of short lateral branches with recurved spines, attainig 3-10(20) m in length. Stems glabrous or puberulent at the extremities, cylindrical, attaining 8 cm in diameter; bark grayish or light brown, with numerous lenticels. Leaves alternate, 4-15 × 2.5-8.7 cm, chartaceous, ovate, oblong, or sometimes obovate, the apex short-acuminate or sometimes obtuse, the base rounded, cordiform, or truncate, the margins entire, crenate, or sparsely serrate; upper surface yellowish green, dull, glabrous or puberulent, punctate, with three main veins, sunken; lower surface yellowish green, dull, glabrous, the venation prominent, with small tufts of hairs in the axils of the secondary veins; petioles 2-15 mm long. Flowers unisexual or bisexual, the staminate flowers in branched axillary cymes, the pistillate or bisexual flowers in simple axillary cymes. Calyx of discrete sepals, oblong, concave, ciliate, 1-2 mm long; stamens 5, ascendent; ovary ovoid, with two pubescent styles. Drupe fleshy, ovoid or almost globose, 6-10(14) mm long, orange, with persistent styles.

Phenology: Flowering from February to May and fruiting from May to September.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 635; 2021; 2361; 2691; 3237; 3815; 5150; 6980; 7237.
less ↑

Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski in Acev.-Rodr., Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 114. 1996.

Fig. 41. D-I

Basionym: Silphium trilobatum L.

Synonym: Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc.

Creeping or decumbent herb, sometimes scandent, attaining 2 m in length. Stems obtusely quadrangular or cylindrical, puberulous. Leaves opposite; blades 3-10 × 2.5-6 cm, oblanceolate or rhombic, usually 3-lobed, chartaceous, the apex obtuse or acute, the base obtuse or attenuate, the margins serrate; upper surface pubescent or puberulous; lower surface pubescent or puberulous, with glandular dots, with prominent venation and pubescent; petioles 0-5 mm long. Capitula of numerous flowers, solitary, terminal; peduncles 3.5-14 cm long, puberulous; involucre turbinate; phyllaries in one series, 12-14, unequal, 10-14 cm long, oblanceolate or oblong, green; disc corollas tubular, yellow, 4.5-5.5 mm long, papillose on the outer surface of the lobes; ray corollas ligulate, the ligules ca. 15 mm long, subelliptical, trilobed at the apex. Achenes pyriform, ca. 2 mm long; pappus forming a corona, ca. 1 mm high.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Ornamental, cultivated and naturalized, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 923; 2894.
less ↑

Ipomoea eggersii (House) D. F. Austin, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 64: 335. 1979.

Fig. 65. D-E

Basionym: Exogonium eggersii House

Synonym: Ipomoea arenaria sensu Urb.

Twining vine, slightly woody, much branched from the base, attaining 5 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Tuberous roots subglobose (resembling a beet). Stems cylindrical, slender, reddish brown, glabrous. Leaves alternate, clustered on short axillary branches; blades 6-15 × 4-13 mm, reniform, lyrate or lobed, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex retuse, mucronate, the base cordiform, truncate, or rounded, the margins sinuate; upper surface dark green, dull, glabrous, with the veins flat; lower surface pale green, with the midvein thick and prominent; petioles 5-30 mm long, glabrous, slender. Flowers solitary at the end of short branches; bracts oblong, minute. Calyx pale green, not accrescent, the sepals ovate to rounded, 5-6 mm long, glabrous, unequal; corolla infundibuliform, 4-5 cm long, the tube pale green outside, white inside, the limb pink or pale violet, 3-4 cm in diameter, with 5 obtuse lobes; stamens and stigmas white, not exserted. Capsules ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 cm long, light brown; seeds 4 per fruit, dark brown, ca. 6 mm long, with a tuft of long silky hairs at the margins.

Phenology: Collected in flower from January to April and in fruit from January to March.

Status: Native, rather common.

Commentary: Ipomoea eggersii seems to be closely related to I. steudelii, because both species share numerous morphological characters. The leaves and seeds are almost indistinguishable. However, the corollas of both species are drastically different and their distribution does not overlap: I. eggersii is distributed from the Virgin Islands to the Lesser Antilles, while I. steudelii is found on Culebra, Vieques, Puerto Rico, and probably in Hispaniola.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 762; 1078; 2275; 2711; 3095; 4043; Britton, N.L. 59; 508; Eggers, B. 31; Fosberg, F.R. 60856; Ogdon, N. s.n.; Ricksecker, A.E. 367: Rose, J.N. 3192; Smith, A.C. 10589.
less ↑

Mansoa hymenaea (Dc.) A. H. Gentry, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 66: 782. 1979.

Fig. 45. D-G

Basionym: Bignonia hymenaea Dc.

Woody vine, with a strong odor of garlic, which climbs by tendrils, 3-5 m in length. Young stems angular to subcylindrical, striate, puberulous to glabrous; mature stems cylindrical, lenticellate; cross section with a cross of four arms, formed by the phloem tissue; nodes slightly compressed, with a glandular interpetiolar zone; pseudostipules keeled, 2-3 mm long. Leaves opposite, 2-foliolate, with a terminal trifid tendril, early deciduous; leaflets 6-10 × 2.5-6 cm, elliptical or ovate, chartaceous, the apex acute, obtuse, or acuminate, the base acute, obtuse, or rounded, sometimes unequal, the margins undulate; upper surface dull, glabrous, with the venation slightly prominent; lower surface light green, dull, sparsely punctate-glandular, without glands in the axils of the secondary veins, the venation slightly prominent; petioles and petiolules puberulous; petioles 1.3-3.5 cm long, the petiolules slightly keeled by the decurrent base of the blade, 1-2.6 cm long. Flowers few in axillary racemes, 5-20 cm long; peduncles keeled. Calyx green, campanulate, puberulous, 8-9 mm long, truncate or denticulate, ciliate and with a purple tinge at the apex; corolla violet-pink or lavender, infundibuliform, 4.5-6.5 cm long, the tube lighter than the lobes, the limb 2.5-4 cm in diameter, with 5 rounded lobes; stamens inserted; ovary cylindrical, lepidote. Capsule linear, longacuminate, compressed, coriaceous, light brown, 15-25 × 1.7-2 cm, with a longitudinal vein in the middle portion of each of the valves; seeds numerous, 2-winged, oblong, membranaceous, ca. 3.3 cm long.

Phenology: Flowering from December to May and fruiting from January to May.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7215; 10180; 10183.
less ↑

Clerodendrum × speciosum Dombrain, Flor. Mag. 8, pl. 432. 1869.

Fig. 160. E-G

Synonyms: Clerodendrum thomsonae f. speciosum (Dombrain) Voss

Clerodendrum umbellatum var. speciosum (Dombrain) Moldenke

Slightly woody vine, twining, attainig 3 m in length. Stems obtusely quadrangular, striate, minutely puberulent; stipules absent. Leaves opposite, 7.5-15.5 × 5.7-8 cm, elliptical or ovate, chartaceous, the apex acuminate, the base rounded or cordiform, the margins entire or remotely sinuate; upper surface glabrous; lower surface glabrous, pale green, with numerous dots, the veins prominent and minutely puberulent; petioles 1-2 cm long, sulcate, puberulent. Inflorescences of axillary dichasial cymes; bracts minute, subulate. Calyx more or less urceolate, 1.0-1.5 cm long, intense pink to purple, puberulent, the sepals lanceolate, connate at the base, acuminate at the apex; corolla red or red-orange, hypocrateriform, 2.5-3 cm long, the tube quite narrow, the lobes rounded; filaments pink, twice as long as the corolla; style pink, as long as the filaments. Fruit unknown.

Phenology: Collected in flower from September to February.

Status: Exotic, cultivated, persistent and naturalized in some localities in Puerto Rico.

Commentary: Discrepancies exist regarding the nature of this taxon. Originally (1869), it was described as a hybrid under the name of C. x speciosum. Later, Voss (1894) considered this taxon as a form of C. thomsonae and Moldenke (1937) as a variety of C. umbellatum Poir. Moldenke, in 1983, changed his opinion, recognizing it as a form of C. thomsonae, but pointed out that the studies necessary to discard its hybrid nature do not yet exist. Due to the fact that the nature of this taxon has not been established with certainty, it seems to me appropriate to utilize the name of C. x speciosum, this being the most widely used name.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9413.
less ↑

Cissus rotundifolia (Forssk.)Vahl, Symb. Bot. 3: 19. 1794.

Fig. 163. E-F

Basionym: Saelanthus rotundifolius Forssk.

Non-woody vine, that climbs by means of tendrils and attains more than 5 m in length. Stems fleshy, with abundant watery latex, more or less cylindrical, striate, with malpighiaceous hairs on the new growth, glabrescent. Leaves alternate, fleshy, oval, glabrous, 4-6.5 × 4-6 cm, involute, the apex truncate to almost rounded, the base cordiform, the margins serrate; petioles 0.8-1.2 cm long, sulcate; stipules ca. 2 mm long, oblong-lanceolate, early deciduous; tendrils opposite the leaves, thick, simple, slightly longer than the leaves, twisting in the form of a spiral. Inflorescences cymose, opposite the leaves, with the flowers grouped in umbels; pedicels 4-10 mm long, green. Calyx green, rotate or discoid, 1.5-1.8 mm wide; petals 4, pale green or whitish green, oblong-triangular, 2-2.5 mm long, deciduous; disc short-cupular, ca. 0.3 mm high; ovary sinuate-lobate at the base. Fruits globose, fleshy, ca. 0.8-1 cm in diameter, greenish.

Phenology: Collected in flower in September and in fruit in April and September.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and escaped from cultivation, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 11003; 11495.
less ↑

Metastelma anegadense Britton, Bot. Porto Rico. 6: 97. 1925.

Fig. 30. A-D

Synonym: Cynanchum anegadense (Britton) Alain

Herbaceous vine, twining, glabrous, attaining 1 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems with branches that intertwine like a braid; branches green, cylindrical, smooth, < 1 mm in diameter. Leaves perennial, opposite, usually clustered on short lateral branches; blades 1-3.5 × 0.2-0.8 cm, oblong to oblanceolate, coriaceous, the apex rounded to apiculate, the base acute, the margins entire, revolute; upper surface dull, with the midvein sunken, without glands at the union with the petiole; lower surface pale, with a prominent midvein, the secondary veins not visible; petioles 2-3 mm long; stipules interpetiolar, triangular, 0.5 mm long. Flowers few, in sessile cymes. Calyx green, crateriform, the sepals ovate-lanceolate, ca. 1 mm long; corolla yellowish, the lobes lanceolate, acuminate, 2-4 mm long, puberulous toward the apex, strigose in the center on the inner surface; corona with spiniform lobes, ca. 0.5 mm long; gynostegium short-stipitate, ca. 0.7 mm long. Follicles fusiform, 4-5 cm long, glabrous; seeds numerous, light brown, ca. 4 mm long, elliptical, with a tuft of long hairs at the apex.

Phenology: Collected in flower in January, February, and July and in fruit in June.

Status: Endemic to Anegada and Tortola, uncommon.

Commentary: This species was cited by Woodbury et al. (1977) and by Liogier and Martorell (1982) for Mona Island based on the erroneous identification of Metastelma monense.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10964; 11054. DArcy, W.G. 4809.
less ↑

Solandra grandiflora Sw., Königl. Vet. Acad. Handl. 8: 300, t. 11. 1787.

Fig. 157. G-H

Woody vine, attainig 8-10 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, with numerous short lateral branches; bark gray, rugose in dried specimens, slightly lenticellate. Leaves alternate or congested at the end of short lateral branches, 6.5-14 × 3.2-7.3 cm, obovate, spathulate, or broadly elliptical, glabrous, coriaceous, the apex almost rounded, projecting in a short acumen, the base attenuate, the margins revolute, entire; upper surface shiny, with the venation flat; lower surface light green, with prominent venation; petioles glabrous, slender, 2-5.5 cm long. Flowers solitary, at the end of short lateral branches, pedicels glabrous, thick, not distinguishable from the calyx. Calyx green, tubular-campanulate, glabrous, 4-10 cm long, inflated-angular; corolla cyathiform, 14-23 cm long, greenish white or yellow, with several marron lines inside, the tubular portion shorter than or as long as the dilated portion, the limb with 5 sinuate lobes, more or less revolute; stamens as long as the corolla. Berry coriaceouswoody, depressed-ovoid, ca. 3 cm long, with the calyx split and persistent at the base.

Phenology: Collected in flower from October to December.

Status: Apparently exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Liogier, A.H. 35677; Sintenis, P. 364.
less ↑

Gouania lupuloides (L.) Urb., Symb. Antill. 4: 378. 1910.

Fig. 144. A-H

Basionym: Banisteria lupuloides L.

Synonym: Rhamnus domingensis Jacq.

Gouania domingensis (Jacq.) L.

Woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 7-12 m in length. Stems with many lateral branches; bark grayish, fissured. Branches cylindrical, green, glabrous or puberulent; tendrils simple, semicircular in form, basal to the inflorescences or terminal on short lateral branches. Leaves alternate, 4.5-7.5(10.5) × 2-4(6.5) cm, chartaceous, ovate or elliptical, glabrous or puberulent, the apex acute or short-acuminate, the base rounded or subcordiform, the margins serrate; upper surface dark green, shiny, with the venation sunken; lower surface pale green, slightly shiny, with prominent venation; petioles 0.5-1.5 cm; stipules 2-3 mm long. Inflorescences of racemes, terminal or on short axillary branches, 5-10 cm long, pubescent. Calyx pubescent outside, the sepals ca. 1 mm long, triangular, glabrous on the inner surface; petals yellowish, ca. 1 mm long, forming a hood that covers the stamen; stamens slightly shorter than the petals; disc ca. 1 mm high. Fruit a threewinged schizocarp, 5-7 mm long, dehiscent into 3 trigonal mericarps. Seeds 3-4 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering from August to March and fruiting from November to March.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2295; 3812; 7011; 7087; Goll, G.P. 230; 386; 582; Heller, A.A. 6104; Liogier, A.H. 10346; Shafer, J.A. 2356; 2860; Sintenis, P. 200; 1261; 1960; 2924; 5508; 5550; Stevenson, J.A. 385; 697.
less ↑

Mikania porosa Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 465. 1899.

Fig. 38. A-C

Synonym: Mikania swartziana sensu A. Stahl, non Griseb.

Herbaceous vine, twining, deciduous, attaining 8 m in length. Stems slender, 4-6-angled, glabrous, aromatic, with numerous pores. Leaves opposite; blades 1.5-6 × 0.7-2.5 cm, ovate, oblong, lanceolate, or sometimes trilobed or trifoliolate, the apex acute or acuminate, the base rounded or slightly cuneate, the margins entire, revolute, the venation pinnate, with 2 basal veins united to the midvein; upper surface dull or slightly shiny, glabrous, with numerous pores or sparse resinous dots; lower surface pale, dull, with numerous pores or resinous dots, the venation slightly prominent; petioles 5-15 mm long; pseudostipules absent. Capitula sessile or subsessile in subglobose or spiciform units, arranged in terminal paniculiform cymes; subinvolucral bracts ovate, ca. 0.5 mm long, puberulous; phyllaries oblong or subelliptical, 2.5-2.7 mm long, puberulous. Corollas white, infundibuliform, ca. 2.8 mm long. Achenes cuneiform, prismatic, 1.7-2.2 mm long, light brown or cream-colored; pappus of numerous bristles, white or cream-colored, scabrous, 2-3 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering from November to February and fruiting in January and February.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: King, R.M. 10613; Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7066; 7212; 9356; Axelrod, F. 3980; Britton, N.L. 1678; 3892; Proctor, G.R. 47575; Stahl, A. 381; Stevenson, J.A. 1656.
less ↑

Pisonia aculeata L., Sp. Pl. 1026. 1753.

Fig. 1A; 128. G-M

Synonym:Pisonia helleri Standl.

Liana or woody, clambering shrub, attainig 20 m in length. Stems more or less cylindrical, glabrous or minutely pubescent, grayish or creamcolored, lenticellate, attaining 7 cm in diameter; cross section of the stem with discrete vascular bundles within the connective tissue. Branches short or elongate; short branches opposite, divaricate, persistent, with recurved spines, produced on the trunk; elongate branches at the end of the stem, glabrescent, quadrangular, with recurved axillary spines. Leaves opposite on the elongate branches or whorled on the short lateral branches, 6-14 × 3-6 cm, chartaceous, elliptical, ovate, oblong, or suborbicular, the apex acute, obtuse, rounded, or short-acuminate, the base obtuse, unequal or rounded, the margins crenulate; upper surface glabrous, dark green, shiny, with the midvein slightly prominent; lower surface pale green, shiny, glabrous or sometimes pubescent, with the midvein prominent; petioles slender, 1-3 cm long. Inflorescences of small axillary cymes, with minute sessile flowers. Staminate flowers campanulate, 2.5-3 mm long, yellowish, pubescent outside; stamen exserted, the filaments twice as long as the perianth. Pistillate flowers ca. 2.5 mm long, almost tubular, tomentose; stigma exserted, branched. Anthocarp ellipsoid or claviform, obtusely 5-angular, 10-12 mm long, tomentose, with one or two lines of stipitate glands in each of the angles.

Phenology: Flowering from December to June and fruiting from February to August.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 548; 4209; 4737; 7221; 10651; 11480; Liogier, A.H. 35979; Shafer, J.A. 2572; Sintenis, P. 672; Underwood, L.M. 561.
less ↑

Passiflora maliformis L., Sp. Pl. 956. 1753.

Fig. 134. A-B

Woody vine, glabrous or finely pilose, attainig 2-5(15) m in length and climbs by means of axillary tendrils. Stems subangular, cylindrical when mature, up to 2.5 cm in diameter. Leaves alternate, glabrous, chartaceous, 6-12 × 4-10 cm, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, not lobate, the apex acute, acuminate, or less frequently rounded, the base truncate to almost cordiform, the margins entire or undulate; venation pinnate, but the two basal secondary veins extending beyond the middle of the blade, prominent on both surfaces, especially on the lower surface; petioles 1.5-5 cm long, with a pair of subsessile glands above the middle; stipules linear, 9-15 mm long, not glandular; tendrils simple. Flowers solitary, axillary, subtended by a persistent involucre of 3 ovate bracts, green, 4-6 cm long, connate at the base; peduncles 3-7 cm long. Calyx campanulate, the tube ca. 1 cm long, the sepals oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 3-4 cm long, green, with a dorsal keel that projects beyond the apex; petals linear-lanceolate, green, with numerous violet dots on the inner surface, ca. 3 cm long; corona multiseriate, the 2 outer series of filiform segments, with violet bands, the inner series tuberculate; stamens 5; ovary oblong or subglobose, glabrous, the stigmas capitate. Fruit a crustaceous berry, globose, 3.5-4 cm in diameter, green, with the involucre not persistent. Seeds numerous, oblong-obcordate, 5-6 mm long, reticulate.

Phenology: Collected in flower in February and March and in fruit in June.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Sintenis, P. 1166; 6560.
less ↑

Basella alba L., Sp. Pl. 272. 1753.

Fig. 42. K-N

Synonym: Basella rubra L.

Twining vine, climbing or creeping, herbaceous, glabrous, attaining 10 m in length. Stems somewhat succulent, cylindrical, usually with a reddish to purple tonality, up to 2.5 cm in diameter. Leaves alternate; blades 3-15 × 1.2-14 cm, green, reddish, or purple, ovate, orbicular, or oblong, fleshy, the apex obtuse, rounded, or acute, the base acute, subtruncate, rounded, or cordiform, decurrent on the petiole, the margins entire, undulate, usually reddish or purple; upper surface dull, with slightly conspicuous venation; lower surface dull, with slightly prominent venation; petioles green or reddish, 0.5-5 cm long, slightly winged. Flowers arranged in simple or branched spikes, axillary, erect, 15-25 cm long. Calyx white or with a reddish tinge, the sepals 2, ovate or elliptical, 3.2-4 mm long; corolla fleshy, white, with a reddish or violet tinge toward the apex, 3.3-4.1 mm long. Utricles purple, fleshy, 4-lobate, 4-5 mm long, covered by the accrescent corolla, 5-7 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit from August to March.

Status: Exotic, widely cultivated as a vegetable, because its leaves are edible, like spinach.
less ↑

Ficus citrifolia Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. 1768.

Fig. 127. A-C

Terrestrial or strangling (epiphytic) tree attainig 10 m in height, or less frequently a liana attainig 10 m in length, producing abundant milky latex. When it grows as a liana its branches are pendulous or scandent, the stems cylindrical, attaining 10 cm in diameter. Leaves alternate, 4-20 × 2-12 cm, elliptical, ovate, elliptic-lanceolate, or less frequently oblanceolate, chartaceous or subcoriaceous, glabrous, the apex obtuse or acuminate, the base obtuse, cordiform, or truncate, the margins entire; upper surface with slightly prominent venation; lower surface with the reticulate venation prominent; petioles 1-7 cm long, glabrous, canaliculate; stipules conical, glabrous, with a reddish tinge. Syconium globose, depressed-globose, or obovoid, 6-12 mm long, greenish yellow, with reddish spots, turning red when ripe; peduncles 4-8 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition during August.

Status: Native, rather common.

Commentary: The lianescent form of this species grows on the tops and sides of mogotes and produces long stems that hang down and reach the base of the mogotes. Once the stems have reached the base of the mogotes, they become creeping or scandent. It is possible that this growth form results from the etiolation of the stems due to the low light intensity, and that it does not constitute a fixed characteristic for this species. Nevertheless, this phenomenon has been observed rather frequently, which justifies the inclusion of this species in the present work.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10635.
less ↑

Clematis dioica L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1084. 1759.

Fig. 143. J

Slightly woody vine, dioecious, that climbs by means of twining leaves and attains 3-10 m in length. Stems slender, sulcate, glabrous, almost cylindrical, with many lateral branches. Leaves opposite, trifoliolate; leaflets coriaceous, ovate or cordiform, 5-9 × 2-7 cm, the apex acute or shortacuminate, the base subcordiform or rounded, the margins entire, sometimes with 1-2 teeth; upper surface shiny, glabrous; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous or puberulent toward the base, with slightly prominent venation; petiolules more or less glabrous, the terminal one 1.5-3 cm long, the lateral ones 0.7-2.5 cm long; petioles 3-7 cm long, glabrous. Inflorescences axillary or terminal on short lateral branches; flowers unisexual, in dichasial cymes; pedicels 1.2-4 cm long, with a pair of minute bracteoles below the middle. Sepals white or cream-colored, oblanceolate or obovate, 4-10 mm long, more or less glabrous except for the lanate-pubescent margins; stamens 30-50, unequal; carpels 15-25, ca. 6 mm long. Fruit an ellipsoid achene, slightly compressed, 3-4 mm long, pilose, the margin not thickened, the style plumose, persistent, 2-6 cm long, dispersed by the wind.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from October to February.

Status: Native, rare.

Selected Specimens Examined: Sintenis, P. 5843.
less ↑

Cissampelos pareira L., Sp. Pl. 1031. 1753.

Fig. 125. A-J

Dioecious vine, slightly woody, twining, attainig 3-6 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, glabrous or pilose. Leaves alternate, chartaceous, broadly ovate to almost circular, 4-12 × 4-10 cm, the apex rounded, obtuse, emarginate, usually mucronate, the base cordiform, subtruncate, usually peltate; upper surface glabrous, yellowish green or grayish, dull; lower surface pale green, almost whitish, sparsely or densely pubescent, with the venation palmate, prominent, the margin revolute, crenate; petioles cylindrical, pubescent, 2-7 cm long, with the base swollen. Inflorescences of axillary cymes or cauliflorous; bracts of the pistillate inflorescences foliaceous, ovate, pilose. Flowers 1-1.5 mm long, greenish. Calyx pilose. Drupe globose, redorange, 4-5 mm in diameter, fleshy, partially covered by a bract. Seed horseshoe-shaped.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 826; 1868; 2219; 2439; 3126; 5343; 7090; 11312; Axelrod, F. 6003; Britton, N.L. 126; 667; Heller, A.A. 332; 1283; Otero, J. 564; Sargent, F.H. 223; Shafer, J.A. 2482; 3255; Sintenis, P. 326; 5186; 5354; Stevenson, J.A. 259; 435; 1971; Underwood, L.M. 305; 321; 350; 357; Wilson, P. 282.
less ↑

Selaginella willdenovii (Desv. ex Poir.) Baker, Gard. Chron. 1867: 783, 950. 1867.

Fig. 12. D-G

Basionym: Lycopodium willdenovii Desv. ex Poir.

Clambering herb, 6-10 m in length. Stems brittle, with numerous secondary branches up to 50 cm long, these again branched into short branches with determinate growth, which attain 13 cm long and give the appearance of a 3-pinnate, triangular leaf. Primary and secondary branches greenish or with a reddish shade. Leaves oblong-ovate, imbricate and in two layers, the upper layer of leaves ca. 1 mm long, the lower layer of leaves 3-4 mm long, the apex obtuse, the base auriculate to subcordiform, sessile. Strobili 1.5-2 cm long, green, at the tips of the tertiary branches.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in February.

Status: Exotic, naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9328.
less ↑

Stigmaphyllon floribundum (Dc.) C. Anderson, Syst. Bot. 11: 128. 1986.

Fig. 122. H-M

Basionym: Banisteria floribunda Dc.

Synonyms: Stigmaphyllon tomentosum (Desf.) Niedenzu

Tetrapterys paniculata sensu A. Stahl

Heteropterys nitida var. obtusifolia Kuntze

Woody vine, twining, attainig 15 m in length. Stems much branched from the base, cylindrical, attaining 2-3 cm in diameter; bark rough, reddish brown. Branches lenticellate, cylindrical, tomentose. Leaves opposite, yellowish or reddish when young, elliptical, oblong, linear, lanceolate, or rounded, 4-18 × 2.5-15.5 cm, coriaceous, the apex obtuse or truncate, emarginate-mucronate, the base obtuse, truncate to cordiform, the margins entire, revolute, ciliate; upper surface dark green, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; lower surface pale green, dull, densely appressed-pubescent or sericeous, the venation prominent; petioles cylindrical, ferruginous-pubescent, 1-2.5 cm long, with a pair of prominent discoid glands in the area adjacent to the blade; stipules triangular, minute. Inflorescences of terminal panicles, up to 22 cm long, composed of umbels or pseudoracemes, with 20-30(50) flowers; peduncles strigose; pedicels strigose, 1-3 cm long. Calyx of 5 rounded sepals, 2-2.7 mm long, strigose, four of them with a pair of glands outside at the base. Petals yellow, rounded, 11-15 mm long, unguiculate; stamens unequal; anterior style shorter, the stigmas green. Mericarps 1.8-3.2 cm long, strigose, especially the seminiferous portion, with a rudimentary apical wing and a well developed dorsal wing, divaricate, more or less oblong, with the upper margin curved.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year and fruiting sporadically.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10796; 308; 1062; 2854; 2855; 3742; 6994; 7013; 7195; 7239; 7765; 10196; 10205.
less ↑

Mikania pachyphylla Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 463. 1899.

Fig. 37. D-G

Slightly woody vine, twining, 4-8 m in length. Stems hexagonal, 8-10 mm in diameter, glabrous, with numerous lateral branches, the bark grayish, smooth, and aromatic. Leaves opposite; blades 3.5-9 × 2-3 cm, ovate, fleshy, brittle, slightly aromatic, 3-nerved, the apex acuminate, the base obtuse or rounded, the margins serrate-mucronate; upper surface pale green, shiny, glabrous, foveate, with the venation sunken; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous, with prominent venation and whitish; petioles 1-2 cm long, glabrous, yellowish; pseudostipules absent. Capitula numerous, sessile or subsessile, arranged in terminal or axillary paniculiform cymes; subinvolucral bracts ovate, involute, 0.6-0.7 mm long, with some scattered reddish hairs; phyllaries oblong, 3-4.5 mm long, puberulous. Corollas white, infundibuliform, 3-3.2 mm long, with scattered resinous dots. Achenes cuneiform, 2-2.3 mm long, light brown; pappus of numerous cream-colored bristles, ca. 2.7 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year, especially from April to July.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7111; 9435; Axelrod, F. 4288; Breckon, G. 4241; Liogier, A.H. 10814; Proctor, G.R. 43542; Sargent, F.H. 318.
less ↑

Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A. H. Gentry, Brittonia 25: 236. 1973.

Fig. 3. D; 45. A-C

Basionym: Bignonia unguis-cati L.

Synonyms: Batocydia unguis (L.) Dc.

Doxantha unguis-cati (L.) Miers

Woody vine, which climbs by tendrils and attains 10-15 m in length. Stems cylindrical, lenticellate, up to 6 cm in diameter; cross section of the mature stem with multilobed xylem, the lobes alternating with radially arranged phloem tissue; nodes thickened; interpetiolar zone not glandular. Pseudostipules ovate, ca. 5 mm long. Leaves opposite, 2-foliolate, with a terminal tendril, trifid like a claw, generally of short duration; leaflets 6-16 × 1.2-7 cm, elliptical, oblong, or obovate, chartaceous or coriaceous, glabrous or with punctiform scales, the apex acute or acuminate, the base acute, rounded, or unequal, the margins undulate or rarely denticulate; upper surface dark, shiny, with sunken venation; lower surface light green, dull, with prominent venation; petioles 1-4.5 cm long, petiolules 0.5-2.5 cm long, both glabrous. Flowers solitary or in pairs, axillary; pedicel ca. 2 cm long. Calyx green, campanulate, 12-16 mm long, with 5 unequal lobes; corolla brilliant yellow, infundibuliform, 4-8 cm long, the limb 3-6 cm in diameter, with 5 unequal lobes, rounded; stamens 4, didynamous, inserted; ovary covered with punctiform scales. Capsule linear, somewhat woody, brown, 25-95 cm long; seeds numerous, 1-3.5 cm long, with 2 membranaceous wings.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2110; 2803; 3958; 9352; 11272; Axelrod, F. 4740; Britton, N.L. 66; Heller, A.A. 1233; Howard, R.A. 15754; Sargent, F.H. 74; Shafer, J.A. 2001; 2349; Sintenis, P. 550; 862; 1242; 1285; 1415; 3270; 5000; Underwood, L.M. 371; 782; Stevenson, J.A. 1757.
less ↑

Paullinia pinnata L., Sp. Pl. 366. 1753.

Fig. 150. I-O

Woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 6-10 m in length. Stems obtuse, 3-5-angular, glabrous or pubescent on the young portions, glabrescent when mature, up to 6 cm in diameter and producing scarce milky latex when cut; bark smooth, light brown; cross section with a central vascular cylinder and 2 or 3 peripheral vascular cylinders, smaller than the central one. Leaves alternate, pinnately 5-foliolate; leaflets coriaceous, 5-16 × 2.2-6 cm (the distal leaflet larger), elliptical, ovate, or lanceolate, the apex acute, the base attenuate or acute on the terminal leaflet and obtuse or rounded and sometimes asymmetrical on the lateral ones, the margins deeply serrate; upper surface glabrous or puberulent along the midvein, green, shiny, with slightly prominent venation; lower surface glabrous or puberulent along the midvein, green, dull, the venation prominent, with a tuft of hairs in the axils of the secondary veins; rachis and petioles broadly winged; stipules subulate, ca. 5 mm long; tendrils in pairs, spirally twisted, at the end of short axillary axes, from which an inflorescence usually develops. Flowers zygomorphic, in axillary racemiform thyrses; axis of the inflorescence tomentose. Calyx light green, puberulent, of 5 sepals, the two outer ones ca. 2 mm long, the inner ones 4-5 mm long; petals white, obovate, 4-5 mm long; petaliferous appendages slightly shorter than the petals, fleshy and yellow at the apex, forming a hood that encloses the glands of the disc; disc unilateral, with 4 rounded to ovoid glands. Capsule pyriform, not winged, red, 1.5-3 cm long. Seeds 12-15 mm long, ellipsoid, with a white aril, covering the base and more than half of the two sides.

Phenology: Flowering from April to November and fruiting from October to July.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 304; 1090; 3073; 6230; 6957; 6961; 7125; 9451; 11442; Boom, B. 7997; Britton, N.L. 1525; Eggers, B. 716; Goll, G.P. 369; Heller, A.A. 1223; Sargent, F.H. 431; Shafer, J.A. 2905; 3404; Sintenis, P. 188; 1532; Underwood, L.M. 354; 469; 993.
less ↑

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl., Field Mus. Bot. 3: 435. 1930.

Fig. 84. G-K

Basionym: Cucurbita siceraria Molina

Synonym: Lagenaria vulgaris Ser.

Herbaceous vine, monoecious, which climbs by tendrils, 5-10 m in length. Stems herbaceous, puberulous or densely pubescent, striate; tendrils axillary, bifid. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 6-15 × 7-22 cm, ovate or pentagonal, angular or lobed, chartaceous, the apex apiculate, the base cordiform, the margins sinuate-dentate; both surfaces puberulous; petioles elongate, with a pair of lateral glands, corniculate where they are joined to the blade; stipules absent. Flowers white, nocturnal, unisexual, actinomorphic, usually solitary, axillary; staminate flowers larger than the pistillate flowers; peduncles longer than the accompanying petiole in the staminate flowers or as long as the petiole in the pistillate flowers. Calyx infundibuliform to campanulate, with 5 triangular to linear lobes, 3-4 mm long; corolla yellow, of free petals, expanded, 2-4 cm long, obovate to oblong-ovate, with the apex apiculate and emarginate; stamens 3, the filaments free, inserted on the base of the floral receptacle, the anthers concrescent; hypanthium < 1 cm long; ovary inferior, tricarpellate, ovoid to cylindrical, tomentose, with numerous horizontal ovules, the style short, the stigmas trilobate. Fruit a berry, very variable in form, 20-35 cm long, the pericarp woody, smooth, glabrous; seeds numerous, ovateoblong, ca. 1.5 cm long, not arillate.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit in September.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 11421; Britton, N.L. 10101; Goll, G.P. 454; 974; Sintenis, P. 1922.
less ↑

Gleichenia bifida (Willd.) Spreng., Syst. Veg. ed. 16, 4: 27. 1827.

Fig. 9. A-C

Basionym: Mertensia bifida Willd.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes creeping, reddish brown, with attenuate, ciliate scales at the apex. Fronds clambering or decumbent, 1-2 m in length, forming a dense thicket difficult to penetrate; pinnae 3 times bifurcate, with small accessory pinnae and densely covered with scales in the bifurcation; rachis cylindrical, those of the young pinnae covered with pale brown ciliate scales; primary rachis with proleptic indeterminate growth, the secondary ones short; terminal pinnae 20-35 × 3-5 cm, the midvein densely covered with ferruginous scales on the lower surface; secondary pinnules oblong-deltoid, the apex obtuse; upper surface glabrous; lower surface densely covered with ferruginous scales. Sori ferruginous.

Phenology: Probably found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9322; 9373; 9447; 10218; 10524; Britton, N.L. 503; 5389; 6561; 7573; Cowles, H.T. 399; Eggers, B. 1202; Gaibee; Goll, G.P. 413; 435; 929; Hioram, B. 283; Proctor, G.R. 39418; Shafer, J.A. 3422; Sintenis, P. 429; 1769; 3988; Stimson 1282; Underwood, L.M. 288; 330; Webster, G.L. 8627.
less ↑

Aristolochia grandiflora Sw., Prodr. 126. 1788.

Fig. 23. A-C

Woody vine, twining, glabrescent, 5-7 m in length. Stems cylindrical. Leaves alternate; blades 6-20 × 6-16 cm, ovate or broadly ovate, chartaceous, the venation semi-palmate (with three main veins), the apex acute or acuminate, the base cordiform-sagittate, the margins undulate; upper surface glabrous, dull; lower surface with prominent venation, glaucous, puberulent; petioles 5-11 cm long, glabrous; pseudostipules absent. Flowers solitary, pendulous; peduncle 12-23 cm long; utricle asymmetrically obovoid, 6-12 × 2-3.5 cm, the tube 8-13 cm long, curved, broadened toward the apex; limb peltate, obovate to elliptical, 12-31 cm in diameter, cream-colored with a cardinal red reticulum, the apex cordate, the base with an appendage or tail, 7-150 cm long, the throat cardinal red. Capsule more or less cylindrical, with 5 longitudinal ribs, 13-15.5 cm long; seeds membranaceous, broadly ovate, 1-1.3 cm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower in December, February, April, May, and August and in fruit in April.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and escaped from cultivation, uncommon.
less ↑

Aristolochia odoratissima L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1362. 1763.

Fig. 24. A-B

Synonym: Aristolochia pandurata Jacq.Woody vine, twining, attaining 5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, smooth. Leaves alternate; blades 6.5-11 × 3.5-6 cm, lanceolate, hastate, or less frequently ovate, chartaceous or coriaceous, the venation palmate, the apex acuminate, the base deeply cordate, the margins entire; upper surface dull, glabrous; lower surface puberulous, the venation not prominent; petioles 1-3.5 cm long; pseudostipules inconspicuous or ovate, up to 1.5 cm long. Flowers solitary, yellowish with a cardinal red reticulum; peduncle ca. 3 cm long; utricle obovoid, ca. 1 × 0.5 cm; tube slightly curved, 0.7-1.7 cm long, almost forming a right angle with the utricle; limb 4-6 cm in diameter. Capsule curved, 7-10 cm long, subcylindrical, with 5 longitudinal ribs, the apex and base acute; seeds numerous, membranaceous, triangular, ca. 3 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Apparently exotic, naturalized on St. John; uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 4098.
less ↑

Aristolochia ringens Vahl, Symb. Bot. 3: 99. 1794.

Fig. 24. C-F

Synonyms: Aristolochia grandiflora sensu Vahl, non Sw.Aristolochia galeata sensu authors, non Mart. & Zucc.

Slightly woody vine, twining, attaining 5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, slender, glabrous, with the pith hollow. Leaves alternate; blades 5-16 × 6-18 cm, broadly ovate, reniform or orbicular, chartaceous, with prominently reticulate venation, the apex obtuse or rounded, the base deeply cordate, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, dull; lower surface glaucous, glabrous, with numerous scattered dots; petioles 3-11 cm long, sulcate or compressed, broadened at the base; pseudostipules foliaceous, ovate-rounded, 2.5-5 cm long. Flowers solitary, pendulous; peduncle 7.5-17 cm long; utricle obovoid, 5-7 × 2.5-4 cm, the tube straight, 3-4 cm long, almost forming a right angle with the utricle; limb bilabiate, yellowish with a cardinal red reticulum, the upper lip spathulate, 6-9 cm long, the lower lip lanceolate, 10-15 cm long. Capsule 6-11 cm long, oblong or oblanceolate, with 6 ribs, the apex mucronate, the base acute; seeds numerous, rhomboid, winged, 7-15 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Exotic, uncommon, cultivated and escaped.
less ↑

Aristolochia elegans Mast, Gard. Chron. Ii, 24: 301. 1885.

Fig. 22. A-F

Synonym: Aristolochia littoralis sensu Pfeifer, non Parodi

Woody vine, twining, attaining 7 m in length. Stems glabrous, cylindrical. Leaves alternate; blades 7-9 × 6-10 cm, reniform or broadly ovate, chartaceous, the venation palmate, the apex obtuse or rounded, the base cordiform, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous, shiny; lower surface with prominent venation, glaucous; petioles 1-3 cm long, glabrous; pseudostipules reniform, 1-1.5 cm long. Flowers solitary, pendulous; peduncle ca. 5 cm long; utricle ellipsoid-cylindrical, ca. 3 cm long, the tube 2.5-3.5 cm long, curved at the base, ascending, the limb asymmetrically peltate, crateriform, the lower margin retuse, 5-7 cm in diameter, light green or cream-colored with a cardinal red reticulum. Capsule cylindrical with 5 longitudinal ribs, 5-6 cm long; seeds membranaceous, triangular or ovate, 6-7 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower in February and March and in fruit in February.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P.4136.
less ↑

Aristolochia trilobata L., Sp. Pl. 960. 1753.

Fig. 22. G-H

Slightly woody vine, twining, 3-5 m in length. Stems slender, shiny, cylindrical, glabrous, pink on the younger portions. Leaves alternate; blades trilobed, 8-14 × 10-16 cm, coriaceous, the lobes shallow to quite deep, the apex rounded or obtuse, the base subcordiform or truncate, the margins entire or sinuate; upper surface dark green, shiny, glabrous, with palmate venation, somewhat sunken and yellowish; lower surface pale green, puberulous, the venation reticulate, prominent and puberulous; petioles robust, cylindrical, 2-4.5 cm long, glabrous, dilated at the base; pseudostipules rounded or reniform, 1-1.5 cm long, covering the stem. Flowers solitary, pendulous; peduncle up to 7 cm long; utricle ellipsoid, 2.5-4 cm long; tube straight, 4.5-7.5 cm long, ascending, forming an angle of 50° to 60° with the utricle; limb unilobed, greenish yellow with dark violet spots, the upper lobe with a caudate appendage, 10-31 cm long, ascending-arcuate. Capsules oblong, 6-8 cm long, with 6 longitudinal ribs; seeds numerous, membranaceous, triangular, ca. 7 mm long, compressed.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting almost throughout the year.

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2215; 2217; 2431; 4214; 5080; 6993; Britton, N.L. 5517; Shafer, J.A. 3808; Sintenis, P. 812.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 183; 315; 330; 2184; 7129; 9330; 9488; 11835; Axelrod, F. 9492; Sargent, F.H. 362; Sintenis, P. 1417; Stevenson, J.A. 3458; Proctor, G.R. 45653; 46291; 48067; 50442.
less ↑

Thunbergia grandiflora (Roxb. ex Rottler) Roxb., Hort. Geng. 45. 1814.

Fig. 15. A-F

Basionym: Flemingia grandiflora Roxb. ex Rottler

Woody vine, twining, 10-15 m in length. Stems cylindrical, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, striate, puberulous; cross section of the stem with the pith hollow and the xylem tissue with wide rays. Leaves opposite; blades 15-26 × 13-30 cm, ovate or broadly ovate, chartaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base cordiform or subcordiform, the margins lobate-dentate, ciliate; upper surface dark green, shiny, puberulous, with slightly prominent venation; lower surface light green, ull, glabrous or puberulous, with prominent venation; petioles 6-12 cm long, sulcate. Flowers arranged in axillary cymes; pedicels robust, cylindrical, 4-6 cm long; bracts light green, membranaceous, ovate, ca. 4 cm long, covering the calyx and the corolla tube. Calyx green, in the form of a ring, 4-5 mm long; corolla lilac or white, infundibuliform, with 5 lobes, the tube 6-7 cm long, light yellow inside, narrow at the base, the limb 6-7 cm in diameter. Capsule ca. 3 cm long, subglobose at the base, the upper half in the form of a beak, dehiscent in two halves.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year and fruiting sporadically from May to July.

Status: Exotic, very aggressive, widely cultivated and naturalized in Puerto Rico.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7049; 9350; 9418.
less ↑

Blechnum fragile (Liebm.) C. V. Morton & Lellinger, Amer. Fern J. 57: 68. 1967.

Fig. 5. A-C

BASIONYM: Lomaria fragilis Liebm.

Slightly woody fern, hemiepiphytic, scandent by means of adventitious roots, attaining 2 m in length. Rhizomes thick, 0.8-1.5 cm wide, densely covered with subulate, slihtly undulate, ciliate, ferruginous scales, 8-17 mm long. Fronds more or less clustered, arching, ascendent or pendulous, dimorphic; blades pinnate, membranaceous. Sterile fronds 40-60 × 4-12 cm, with an elliptical outline, the apex acuminate or caudate, the base acute (the pinnae gradually reduced in size toward the base); pinnae 25-75 pairs, oblong-deltate, the apex acuminate, the margins revolute, sometimes with minute callus-like projections; the upper surface dull, with a prominent midvein; the lower surface dull, paler than the upper surface, with a prominent midvein; stipe 10-18 cm long, blackish or brown, with some vestigial pinnae. Fertile fronds slightly smaller than the sterile ones; pinnae 28-41 pairs, linear; indusia half as wide as the pinna.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, commonCollections Examined:Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3064; 7815; 7828; 10864; 11446.
less ↑

Peperomia rotundifolia (L.) Kunth in Humb. Bonpl. & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. (quarto ed.) 1: 65. 1815.

Fig. 139. A-D

Basionym: Piper rotundifolium L.

Epiphytic herb, ascending by means of small aerial roots, attainig 1-3 m in length. Stems cylindrical, brittle, pubescent, ca. 1 mm in diameter, with numerous lateral branchlets. Leaves alternate, fleshy when fresh, aromatic, membranaceous on drying, 5-11 mm long, elliptical, obovate, or almost circular, the apex rounded, the base obtuse or almost rounded, the margins entire, markedly revolute, ciliate; upper surface dark green, glabrous, puberulent, or minutely strigulose, with dark dots; lower surface concave, pale green, glabrous or puberulent, with dark dots; petioles thin, 1-5 mm long, with minute dark dots. Inflorescences of terminal spikes, 1-2.5 cm long, produced on the lateral branchlets.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year.

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Eggers, B. 1153; Sargent, F.H. 411; 3294; Sintenis, P. 469; 1669.
less ↑

Cassytha filiformis L., Sp. Pl. 35. 1753.

Fig. 120. A-F

Synonym: Cassytha americana Nees

Herbaceous vine, twining, parasitic, that adheres to the host plant by means of small haustoria, attainig 1-5 m in length. Stems yellowish green or yellow, flexible, ca. 2 mm in diameter, cylindrical, profusely branched. Leaves 1-2 mm long, lanceolate, sessile, almost imperceptible or absent. Inflorescences of short spikes with few flowers. Tepals white, ovate, ca. 2 mm wide. Fruit globose, light green or white, 5-7 mm in diameter.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 4372; 5299; 6169; 9301; Britton, N.L. 1896; Fosberg, F.R. 52288; Heller, A.A. 330; Little, E.L. 21671; Shafer, J.A. 2892; 2920; Sintenis, P. 625; 3325; 5675; Stevenson, J.A. 1723; Underwood, L.M. 931.
less ↑

Agdestis clematidea Moçiño & Sessé ex Dc., Syst. Nat. 1: 543. 1818.

Fig. 138. A-C

Twining vine, herbaceous, attainig 15 m in length. Stems angular, reddish, striate, puberulent. Leaves with a strong, disagreeable odor, alternate, chartaceous, ovate or broadly ovate, 3-9 × 3-7.5 cm, the apex obtuse or short-acuminate, mucronate, the base deeply cordiform or hastate, the margins crenulate; upper surface dark green, dull, with minute dots; lower surface light green, dull, puberulent, with prominent venation; petioles 1.5-9 cm long, with a reddish tinge, sulcate; stipules absent. Flowers bisexual, white, in axillary panicles, 6-17 cm long; peduncles glabrous or puberulent; pedicels 1-2 mm long, with a minute green bracteole, lanceolate, at the base. Sepals 4, white, 3-5 mm long, oblong or oblanceolate, with the parallel venation conspicuous; petals absent; stamens 13-20; ovary partially inferior, the style conical, with 4 recurved stigmatic branches; ovule solitary. Fruits coriaceous, indehiscent, turbinate, ca. 3 mm long, with the sepals persistent at the base. Seeds elliptical.

Phenology: Flowering from May to December.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized (according to Liogier, 1985), uncommon.
less ↑

Anredera vesicaria (Lam.) C.F. Gaertn, Suppl. Carp. 176, t. 213. 1807.

Fig. 42. A-G

Basionym: Basella vesicaria Lam.

Synonyms: Boussingaultia leptostachys Moq.

Anredera leptostachys(Moq.) Steenis

Herbaceous vine, twining, attaining 15 m in length. Roots tuberous. Stems slender, glabrous, cylindrical, sometimes with a reddish tonality. Leaves alternate; blades 3-11 × 2-6.5 cm, ovate, glabrous, fleshy, the apex acute or acuminate, the base rounded, obtuse, or cordiform, the margins entire or crenate; upper surface dull, with subconspicuous venation; lower surface slightly shiny, with prominent venation; petioles 0.4-2 cm long, slightly winged. Flowers aromatic, functionally unisexual, in axillary pendulous racemes, 10-20 cm long, or in terminal pendulous panicles, 30-50 cm long; pedicels with deciduous bracts. Calyx white, of ovate sepals, ca. 0.4 mm long; corolla white, the petals ovate, 1.5-2.2 mm long, turning cream-colored or remaining white on drying; stamens 5, the filaments connate at the base, 3-4 mm long, the anthers lanceolate, 0.2-0.4 mm long; ovary glabrous, globose, stigmatic branches twice as long as the style. Utricles obovoid, slightly triangular, 1-1.3 mm long, crowned by the fleshy style.

Phenology: Flowering from September to April. The populations of this species in Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Lesser Antilles contain staminate flowers only and never produce fruits. The reproduction of this species on the islands mentioned seems to be exclusively asexual by means of underground tubers (Sperling, 1987).

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1870; 2512 4228; Axelrod, F. 9947.
less ↑

Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis, Fl. Males., Ser. 1, 5: 303. 1957.

Fig. 42. H-J

Basionym: Boussingaultia cordifolia Ten.

Herbaceous vine, fleshy, twining, attaining 5 m in length. Roots tuberous. Stems glabrous, cylindrical, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, producing solitary or clustered bulbils. Leaves alternate; blades 2.2-10 × 1.4-6.2 cm, ovate or broadly ovate, glabrous, fleshy, the apex obtuse or acute, the base cordiform, decurrent on the petiole, the margins entire, hyaline or reddish; upper surface dull, waxy, with the venation somewhat sunken; lower surface lighter than the upper surface, with the venation slightly prominent; petioles 6-12 mm long, slightly winged. Flowers aromatic, turning blackish on drying, apparently bisexual, in terminal or axillary racemes or pendulous panicles, up to 65 cm long; pedicels with persistent bracts. Calyx of 2 white sepals, ovate or broadly elliptical, 1.3-2.2 mm long; corolla of 5 white petals, ovate or elliptical, 2-3 mm long, connate at the base; stamens 5, the filaments connate at the base, 2-3.5 mm long, the anthers lanceolate, 0.7-0.8 mm long; ovary globose or obovoid, glabrous, stigmatic branches 3, as long as the style. Utricles globose, slightly compressed or triangular, 0.9-1.1 mm long, crowned by the base of the fleshy style.

Phenology: Collected in flower in August and September. Rarely produces fruits in Puerto Rico; propagated by means of bulbils or underground tubers.

Status: Exotic, cultivated as an ornamental, naturalized, uncommon.

Commentary: This species has been identified erroneously as Anredera baselloides (Kunth) Baill. by many botanists of the Caribbean flora. Anredera baselloides is a different species, which is neither found either in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
less ↑

Dicranopteris pectinata (Willd.) Underw., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 34: 260. 1907.

Fig. 8. F-G

Basionym: Mertensia pectinata Willd.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes creeping, scabrous, light brown, with deciduous articulate hairs. Fronds clambering or decumbent, 1-2 m long, forming a dense thicket difficult to penetrate; pinnae unequally bifurcate, with a tuft of rigid, reddish trichomes in the area of bifurcation, but without accessory pinnae or these only in the primary bifurcations; axes cylindrical and brittle, primary rachis proleptic, with sympodial growth, tertiary rachis with two narrow longitudinal keels; leaf segments oblong-deltoid, the secondary venation 3-5 times bifurcate, the apex retuse, the margins revolute; lower surface glaucous, glabrous, or sometimes stellate-pubescent. Sori yellowish, 0.5-0.7 mm in diameter.

Phenology: Probably found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7120; 9333; 9372; Britton, N.L. 584; Cowgill 630; Cowles, H.T. 398; Goll, G.P. 438; 938; Proctor, G.R. 39503; 41133; Sintenis, P. 1768; Underwood, L.M. 266.
less ↑

Dicranopteris flexuosa (Schrad.) Underw., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 34: 254. 1907.

Fig. 8. A-E

Basionym: Mertensia flexuosa Schrad.

Synonym: Gleichenia flexuosa (Schrad.) Mett.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes creeping, with deciduous setose trichomes. Fronds clambering or decumbent, 1-2 m long, forming a dense thicket difficult to penetrate; pinnae 4 times bifurcate, with a pair of accessory pinnae of reduced size and a tuft of rigid, reddish trichomes in the area of bifurcation; rachis cylindrical and brittle, the primary rachis with proleptic indeterminate growth, the secondary or tertiary rachis of determinate growth, the latter angular; secondary pinnules oblong-deltoid to linear, glabrous, the secondary venation 2-4 times bifurcate, the apex obtuse, the margins revolute; lower surface pale green, glabrous. Sori reddish brown, 0.2-0.4 mm in diameter.

Phenology: Probably found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9427; 9448; Britton, N.L. 8126; Heller, A.A. 4353; Hioram, B. 329; Proctor, G.R. 39416; 41104; 41158; Stevenson, J.A. 227; 3259; Underwood, L.M. 1286.
less ↑

Odontosoria aculeata (L.) J. Sm., Cult. Ferns 67. 1857.

Fig. 7. A-C

Basionym: Adiantum aculeatum L.

Synonyms: Davallia aculeata (L.) Sm.

Davallia dumosa Sw.

Clambering fern. Rhizomes short, creeping, densely covered with reddish brown scales at the apex. Fronds 2-3-pinnate, glabrous, clambering, up to 3 m in length; pinnae numerous, opposite, 20-40 cm long, ovate-deltoid; pinnules alternate; secondary pinnules (2) 3 (5) times laciniate, cuneiform, the apex usually revolute; rachis spiny.

Phenology: Probably found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2095; 7146; 9321; 9434. Britton, N.L. 505; 1074; 1612; 6079; Cowles, H.T. 255; Dale 5; Fisher, M.J. 71; Goll, G.P. 402; 403; 433; Heller, A.A. 126; Hioram, B. 108; Proctor, G.R. 39398; Shafer, J.A. 3146; Sintenis, P. 169; 2172; Underwood, L.M. 25; Vélez, I. 1050.
less ↑

Oleandra articulata (Sw.) C. Presl, Tent. Pterid. 78. 1836.

Fig. 5. D-E

Basionym: Aspidium articulatum Sw.

Synonym: Oleandra nodosa (Willd.) C. Presl

Herbaceous fern, epiphytic or climbing by adventitious roots, attaining 5 m in length. Rhizomes slender, densely covered with lanceolate, ferruginous scales. Fronds pendulous; blades (15) 23-39 (42) × (2.5) 3-6 cm, membranaceous, oblong, elliptical, or sublanceolate, the apex acute, acuminate, or caudate, the base acute or acuminate, sometimes unequal, the margin crenulate or crenate, slightly revolute and ferruginous; the upper surface shiny, with a prominent, sulcate midvein; the lower surface dull, with a prominent, blackish or shiny gray midvein, covered with ferruginous scales; stipe (4) 8-16 cm long, blackish or gray, glabrous, articulated near the base. Sori circular, light brown, distributed along both sides of the midvein.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Collections Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 6967; 7739; 9324; Britton, N.L. 2060; 2204; 6863; 7570; Cowles, H.T. 406; Dale 51; Eggers, B. 1209; Heller, A.A. 1072; 4613; Hioram, B. 351; Johnston, J.R. 765; Otero, J. 52; Sargent, F.H. 604; Shafer, J.A. 3459; Sintenis, P. 1002; 1780; Webster, G.L. 8698.
less ↑

Hypolepis nigrescens Hook., Sp. Fil. 2: 66, t. 90c. 1852.

Fig. 6. A

Clambering fern. Rhizomes branched, dark brown, pubescent. Fronds 4-pinnate-pinnatifid, with indeterminate growth, 5-10 m long; blades chartaceous, narrowly oblong-lanceolate in outline; upper surface glabrous or less frequently puberulent; lower surface with scattered hairs along the main veins; pinnae opposite or subopposite, broadly lanceolate, up to 35 cm long;primary pinnules alternate; blades 18-24 cm long; stipe and rachis reddish to dark brown, with numerous dark brown straight or recurved spines. Sori circular, submarginal; indusia very narrow, glabrous.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in February, July, and eptember.

Status: Native, rare.

Collections Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9433; 11457; Proctor, G.R. 40131; 40629; Sargent, F.H. 3154. Hypolepis repens: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7740; Proctor, G.R. 39399; 39644; 40628; 41285.
less ↑

Hypolepis repens (L.) C. Presl, Tent. Pterid. 162. 1836.

Fig. 6. B

Basionym: Lonchitis repens L.

Synonym: Hypolepis aculeata (Spreng.) J. Sm.

Clambering fern. Rhizome covered with brown hairs. Fronds ascending, clambering or arching, 3-pinnate-pinnatifid, 2-4 m long; blades coriaceous, triangular in outline, up to 1.5 m wide; upper surface with scattered hairs along the midvein; lower surface shiny, pubescent; pinnae lanceolate-triangular, 20-50 cm long; primary pinnules subopposite, 7-22 cm longstipe and rachis yellowish or light brown, with straight spines, the stipe darker toward the base. Sori circular, submarginal; indusia membranaceous, whitish, subentire.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in August and September.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7740; Proctor, G.R. 39399; 39644; 40628; 41285.
less ↑

Hypolepis tenerrima Maxon, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 14: 196. 1924.

Fig. 6. C

Clambering fern. Fronds weakly ascending or clambering, 2-3-pinnate-pinnatifid, up to 2.5 m in length; blades membranaceous, elongatetriangular in outline, 1-1.5 m wide at the base; glabrous or puberulent, with articulate or glandular hairs on both surfaces, the venation light brown; pinnae subopposite or alternate, up to 80 cm long, obliquely oblong-deltoid to oblongovate, acuminate; rachis puberulent, unarmed or with some scattered straight spines; primary pinnules subopposite or alternate, 16-20 cm long, narrowly oblong-lanceolate in outline; secondary pinnules alternate, 2.5-4 cm long, light to dark brown, oblong, obtuse; stipe and rachis light to dark brown, glabrescent, with non-pointed outgrowths. Sori submarginal; indusia membranaceous, greenish yellow, crenate.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in March.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Collections Examined: Proctor, G.R. 40130; Sargent, F.H. 605; Sintenis, P. 4105; 6454. Hypolepis urbanii: Proctor, G.R. 40130.

Selected Specimens Examined: Proctor, G.R. 40130; Sargent, F.H. 605; Sintenis, P. 4105; 6454.
less ↑

Lomariopsis kunzeana (Underw.) Holttum, Kew Bull. 1939: 617. 1940.

Fig. 10. D

Basionym: Stenochlaena kunzeana Underw.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes climbing by aerial roots, light brown, slightly compressed or obtusely triangular, with longitudinal keels, 5-10 mm wide, sparsely covered with ferruginous, lanceolatecaudate scales, 2-5 mm long. Sterile fronds 40-90 cm long; stipes 8-18 cm long, light brown, sulcate, with some scattered glandular hairs and scales; rachis narrowly winged; pinnae 20-46, alternate or subopposite, lanceolate, chartaceous, 4-11 × 1-1.5 cm, the apex acuminate, the base cuneate, equilateral, the margins acutely incisedserrate, slightly revolute; the upper surface glabrous, the midvein compressed; lower surface puberulent, the midvein rather prominent, yellowish, the secondary venation conspicuous, parallel, free. Fertile fronds smaller than the sterile ones; pinnae oblong, 4-8 mm wide, the apex acute, the base obtuse; lower surface densely covered with light brown sporangia.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in July and August.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Britton, E.G. 5215; Underwood, L.M. & Griggs 843.
less ↑

Lomariopsis amydrophlebia (Sloss. ex Maxon) Holttum, Kew Bull. 1939: 617. 1940.

Fig. 10. C

Basionym: Stenochlaena amydrophlebia Sloss. ex Maxon

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes climbing by aerial roots, dark brown, 4-8 mm wide, densely covered with ferruginous, lanceolate-caudate scales, 6-9mm long. Sterile fronds 30-70 cm long; stipes 12-18 cm long, dark brown, sulcate, with some scattered glandular hairs and scales; rachis narrowly winged; pinnae 22-34, alternate, oblonglanceolate, falcate, chartaceous, 3.5-9 × 1-1.7 cm, puberulent on both surfaces, the venation inconspicuous, parallel, free, the apex obtuse to acuminate, the base cuneate, unequal, the margins crenate to finely serrate, revolute; lower surface with the midvein lighter in color. Fertile fronds smaller than the sterile ones; pinnae linear, 4-9cm × ca. 2 mm, the apex obtuse, the base obtuse; lower surface densely covered with light brown sporangia.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in April.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Proctor, G.R. 40712; Sintenis, P. 1795.
less ↑

Microgramma piloselloides (L.) Copel., Gen. Fil. 185. 1947.

Fig. 11. E-F

Basionym: Polypodium piloselloides L.

Epiphytic or less frequently terrestrial fern. Rhizomes scandent by aerial roots, up to 4 m long, more or less cylindrical, 0.5-1 mm wide, more or less covered with divaricate, ferruginous, attenuate scales that are 3-4 mm long and caudate at the apex. Fronds dimorphic, the sterile ones elliptical or elliptical-lanceolate, 1.5-8 × 1-1.8 cm. Fertile fronds 3.5-10 × 0.3-1.1 cm; stipes slender, 1.5-4 cm long, light brown, glabrous; blades entire, chartaceous, oblong or linear-lanceolate, sparsely covered with minute, ferruginous, subulate scales, the midvein prominent on the lower surface, the secondary venation conspicuous, loosely reticulate, the apex obtuse, the base long-attenuate, the margins entire or slightly crenate. Sori rounded, ferruginous, forming a row on each side of the midvein; paraphyses longer than the sporangia.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, quite common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 200; 3039; 9319; 10810.
less ↑

Microgramma lycopodioides (L.) Copel., Gen. Fil. 185. 1947.

Fig. 11. C-D

Basionym: Polypodium lycopodioides L.

Epiphytic or less frequently epilithic fern. Rhizomes scandent by aerial roots, 1-2 m in length, more or less cylindrical, 2-4 mm wide, densely covered with appressed, ferruginous, linear-attenuate scales, 6-10 mm long, peltate above the base, caudate at the apex. Fronds 5-13 × 0.5-2 cm; stipes slender, up to 5 mm long, yellowish to light brown, glabrous; blades entire, coriaceous, lanceolate or elliptical, glabrous, the midvein prominent, the secondary venation conspicuous, loosely reticulate, the apex obtuse or acute, the base long-attenuate, the margins entire or slightly crenate. Sori rounded, ferruginous, forming a row on each side of the midvein; paraphyses inconspicuous.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, quite common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 263; 9412; 11653; Britton, N.L. 4129; 7289; Fosberg, F.R. 51334; Goll, G.P. 404; 617; Heller, A.A. 1369; 4476; 6235; Proctor, G.R. 39396; 40837; Sargent, F.H. 102; Shafer, J.A. 3152; 3615; Sintenis, P. 1784; 2834; Stimson 1237; Underwood, L.M. 70; 292.
less ↑

Microgramma heterophylla (L.) Wherry, South. Fern Guide 346. 1964.

Fig. 11. A-B

Basionym: Polypodium heterophyllum L.

Synonym: Polypodium serpens Sw.

Polypodium exiguum Heward Epiphytic or less frequently epilithic fern. Rhizomes scandent by minute aerial roots, 1-2 m long, filiform, cylindrical, 0.5-2 mm wide, densely covered with appressed, ferruginous, attenuate scales, 5-7 mm long, peltate above the base. Fronds dimorphic, 3-19 × 0.4-1.7 cm; stipes slender, 4-20 mm long, yellowish to light brown, glabrous; blades entire, chartaceous, elliptical, oblong or lanceolate, glabrous, the midvein prominent, the secondary venation conspicuous, widely reticulate, the apex obtuse or acute, the base long-attenuate, the margins crenate. Sori rounded, ferruginous, forming a row on each side of the midvein; paraphyses inconspicuous.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, quite common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1907; 2037; 10891.
less ↑

Lomariopsis sorbifolia (L.) Fée, Mém. Foug. 2: 69. 1845.

Fig. 10. E

Basionym: Acrostichum sorbifolium L.

Terrestrial fern, 1-1.5 m long. Rhizomes scandent by aerial roots, light brown, slightly compressed or obtusely triangular, with longitudinal keels, sometimes sulcate, 5-10 mm wide, densely covered with light brown, narrowly lanceolate, ciliate, imbricate scales, 8-12 mm long. Sterile fronds 25-115 cm long; stipes 5-30 cm long, light brown, sulcate, with scattered scales; rachis narrowly winged; pinnae 30-52, alternate or subopposite, ovate to lanceolate, chartaceous, 6-13 × 1.5-2.3 cm, with the midvein prominent on both surfaces, the apex long-acuminate to caudate, the base cuneate, equilateral, the margins finely serrate, slightly revolute; lower surface with the secondary venation conspicuous, parallel, free. Fertile fronds smaller than the sterile ones; pinnae linear, 4-8.5 × 3-5 mm, the apex obtuse, the base cuneate; lower surface densely covered with dark brown sporangia.

Phenology:Collected in fertile condition from May to November.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10816; Sintenis, P. 1762.
less ↑

Lygodium japonicum (Thunb. ex Murray) Sw., J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800: 106. 1802.

Fig. 12. A-C

Basionym: Ophioglossum japonicum Thunb. ex MurrayClambering fern. Rhizomes elongate, creeping, slender, densely pubescent. Fronds tripinnate, puberulent, clambering, 1-2 m in length; pinnae bifurcate, with a tuft of trichomes in the area of bifurcation; rachis subcylindrical, with two longitudinal keels, glabrous or puberulent, the primary rachis with indeterminate growth, the secondary ones very short, the tertiary ones narrowly winged, up to 5 cm long; secondary pinnae 5-7 cm long, the distal ones 3-5-dissected, the basal ones pinnately compound; secondary pinnules puberulent, oblong, elongate, with prominent venation, the apex obtuse to rounded. Sporangia on the lower surface of digitiform marginal projections of the basal secondary pinnules or on fertile pinnae, markedly dissectedlobed; indusium forming a small pocket, which opens toward the apex of the leaf blade.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Exotic, naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10849.
less ↑

Polypodium loriceum L., Sp. Pl. 1086. 1753.

Fig. 11. G

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes scandent by aerial roots, 1-2 m in length, greenish or whitish, with light brown spots, cylindrical, 2-5 mm wide, sparsely covered with appressed, light brown, oblong-circular, peltate scales, 2-4 mm long. Fronds 30-80 × 5.5-15(25) cm; stipes 7-24(39)cm long, yellowish to light brown, slightly sulcate, glabrous; blades chartaceous, oblong-deltate or deltate-lanceolate, deeply pinnatisect; segments 15-40 pairs, alternate or subopposite, oblongdeltate, the apex acuminate, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous, the midvein compressed; lower surface glabrous or puberulent, with the venation somewhat prominent, yellowish, the secondary venation conspicuous, reticulate. Sori rounded, yellowish, forming a row (rarely two) on each side of the midvein.

Phenology: Apparently in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7826; 10523; 10871.
less ↑

Rubus florulentus Focke, Abh. Nat. Ver. Bremen 11: 411. 1800.

Fig. 145. A-J

Clambering shrub or woody vine, climbing, that supports itself by means of recurved spines and attains 5-10 m in length. Stems cylindrical or angular, more or less glabrous, with a reddish tinge, with numerous recurved spines. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets 4-11 × 3.3-8 cm, elliptical, ovate, broadly elliptical, or oblong, the terminal leaflet larger than the lateral ones, the apex obtuse, acute, or short-acuminate, the base rounded, truncate, or subcordiform, the margins serrate-mucronate; upper surface dark green, shiny, with the venation sunken, the midvein ferruginous-pubescent; lower surface pale green, dull, with prominent venation, the midvein yellowish, with recurved spines, puberulent, especially alongside the midvein and at the base of the secondary veins; petioles 2.5-6 cm long, swollen at the base, spiny; rachis spiny, 1-3 cm long; stipules linear, 3-4 mm long, adnate to the petiole. Inflorescences of terminal racemes or panicles; axes spiny, tomentose, up to 15 cm long; pedicels 4-7 mm long, tomentose, spiny. Sepals ovate, sericeous outside, free almost to the base, ca. 5 mm long, mucronate at the apex; petals white, obovate, 12-15 mm long; stamens numerous, 3-4.5 mm long; styles glabrous, stigma lateral on distal portion. Fruits aggregate, broadly ovoid, 1.5-2 cm long, formed of numerous fleshy achenes, dark violet in color.

Phenology: Flowering from February to August.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, not very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Britton, N.L. 4550; Sargent, F.H. 639; 3039; Sintenis, P. 4100; 4669.
less ↑

Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3(3): 335. 1894.

Fig. 102. A-E

Basionym: Hedysarum ecastaphyllum L.

Synonyms: Ecastaphyllum ecastaphyllum (L.) Britton

Ecastaphyllum brownei Pers.

Clambering or scandent shrub, much branched from the base, attainig 1-5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, white-pubescent. Leaves alternate, unifoliolate (exceptionally with 3-foliolate leaves on the same plant); leaflets 6-12 × 4.5-8 cm, ovate or oblong, coriaceous, the apex obtuse to acuminate, the base rounded to almost cordiform, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, dull, glabrous, with the venation sunken; lower surface light green, puberulent, with prominent venation; petioles 5-10 mm long, pubescent; stipels absent; stipules ovate to lanceolate, 4-10 mm long, whitesericeous, deciduous. Inflorescences of axillary panicles 1-4 cm long, densely ferruginoustomentose; bracts minute, deciduous. Calyx campanulate, 2.5-3.5 mm long, green, ferruginous-tomentose; corolla pink or white, the standard rounded, ca. 7 mm long, retuse, unguiculate, the wings longer than the standard. Legume 2-2.3 × 1.5-2 cm, oblong to almost circular, flattened, indehiscent, brown when ripe. Seed solitary, up to 1.7 cm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 805; 2039; 2041; 9310; 6996; Axelrod, F. 5012; 9511; 10902; Britton, N.L. 1712; 6824; Cowles, H.T. 219; Heller, A.A. 331; 4506; Sargent, F.H. 3006; Shafer, J.A. 2605; Sintenis, P. 131; 4862; Stevenson, J.A. 1705; 2132; Underwood, L.M. 657; 699; 700; Woodbury, R.O. s.n.
less ↑

Dalbergia monetaria L.f., Suppl. Pl. Syst. Veg. 317. 1781.

Fig. 102. F-I

Synonym: Securidaca volubilis L. pro parte

Liana with pendulous branches, which supports itself on other plants by means of short branches that entangle like tendrils, attaining 10 m or more in length. Stems flexible, cylindrical, up to 10 cm in diameter; bark light brown; branches cylindrical, pubescent on the younger portions. Leaves alternate, 3- to 5-foliolate; leaflets alternate, 5-12 × 3-7 cm, ovate or elliptical, involute, the apex acuminate, the base obtuse or rounded, the margins entire or slightly undulate, revolute; upper surface dark green, shiny, glabrous; lower surface pale green, dull, puberulent, with prominent venation; petiolules thickened, puberulent; rachis puberulent, up to 11 cm long; petioles 1.2-5 cm long, puberulent; stipules minute, ovate, caducous. Inflorescences of short, clustered, axillary racemes. Calyx campanulate, green, 2-3 mm long, puberulent; corolla white, the standard rounded, 5-10 mm long, retuse, unguiculate at the base; the wings and the keel as long as the standard. Legume circular, flattened, 3-4 cm long. Seed one.

Phenology: Flowering from February to October and fruiting from June to March.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 4715; 7174; 7700; 9329; 11384; Britton, N.L. 1528; 2130; 2422; 8094; Gregory 175; Heller, A.A. 208; 979; Little, E.L. 16423; Sargent, F.H. 635; 667; Shafer, J.A. 3377; 3381; 3468; Sintenis, P. 328; 1421; 3898; 4498; 5265; 6293; Stevenson, J.A. 1282.
less ↑

Rhynchosia phaseoloides (Sw.) Dc., Prodr. 2: 385. 1825.

Fig. 112. A-H

Basionym: Glycine phaseoloides Sw.

Synonym: Dolicholus pyramidalis sensu Britton & Wilson, non Lam.

Woody vine, twining, attainig 3-10 m in length. Stems cylindrical, sericeous, mature stems flattened like a ribbon, attaining 2.5 cm wide, glabrous. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate, chartaceous; margins entire or slightly sinuate; upper surface dark green, dull, strigulose or glabrous; lower surface pale green, lanatepubescent, with minute orange resinous dots, the venation prominent; terminal leaflet rhombic or deltate, 3.5-11.5 × 2.4-9.2 cm, the apex acuminate, the base cuneate to almost rounded; lateral leaflets asymmetrical, lanceolate-ovate, slightly smaller than the terminal leaflet, the base obtuse-rounded to cordiform; petiolules densely pubescent, 2-4 mm long; petiole densely pubescent, 4-7 cm long; stipules deciduous. Inflorescence a raceme, as long as or shorter than the leaves. Calyx green, puberulent, 3.5-4 mm long, asymmetrical, one of the lobes lanceolate, ca. 3 mm long, the rest ovate, ca. 1.5 mm long; corolla yellow, the standard 7-8 mm long, obovate, emarginate, punctate, yellow with a reddish tinge; wings oblong, unguiculate, 7-7.5 mm long, with resinous dots; ovary minutely sericeous. Legume oblong, flattened, with the margin sinuate between the seeds, with glandular dots, minutely sericeous, 1.2-2.4 × 0.8-1.2 cm, the apex short-apiculate. Seeds usually two per fruit, ellipsoid, ca. 5 mm long, shiny, the longitudinal half nearer to the hilum red, the other half black.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year.

Status: Native, not very common.

Commentary: The seeds of Abrus precatorius are apt to be confused with those of Rhynchosia phaseoloides, since both have a similar coloration. Nevertheless, in R. phaseoloides the hilum is on the red portion of the seed, while in A. precatorius the hilum is on the black portion.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 173; 220; 9365; 10202; Britton, N.L. 2138; Sintenis, P. 2837; 4491; 5858; 5923; 6623.
less ↑

Mimosa casta L., Sp. Pl. 518. 1753.

Fig. 118. E-H

Woody vine, climbing, scarcely branched, that supports itself on other plants by means of spines which are borne along the length of its stems and petioles, and attainig 1-2 m in length. Stems angular, glabrous, with numerous recurved spines. Leaves alternate, bipinnate, with a single pair of pinnae; leaflets 3-4 pairs, elliptical to oblonglanceolate, 1-3 × 0.5-1.5 cm, the apex acute, the base asymmetrical, one side attenuate, the other rounded, the margins ciliate; upper surface glabrous; lower surface sparsely sericeous, with prominent venation; petioles up to 10 cm long, with numerous recurved spines, pulvinate at the base; stipules subulate, ca. 5 mm long. Inflorescences of globose heads, axillary; peduncle 5-15 mm long. Calyx ca. 0.2 mm long, glabrous; corolla white, infundibuliform 1-2 mm long, glabrous, with 4 lobes; stamens 4, the filaments free, ca. 1 cm long. Legume flattened, oblong, 3-4 × ca. 1.2 cm, glabrous, with 4-5 articulations, the margin with recurved spines.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit in January and February.

Status: Exotic, adventive, apparently a recent introduction, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10; 11; 6203; 10830.
less ↑

Mimosa ceratonia L, Sp. Pl. 523. 1753.

Fig. 119. A-D

Synonym: Lomoplis ceratonia (L.) Raf.

Woody vine, climbing, much branched, that supports itself on other plants by means of spines that are borne along the length of its stem and leaf axes, attaining 2-6 m in length. Stems green or with a reddish tinge, obtusely quadrangular, glabrous, striate, with numerous recurved spines, becoming almost cylindrical and grayish when mature. Leaves alternate, 7-15 cm long, bipinnate; pinnae 4 or 5, pairs opposite; rachis sulcate, with numerous recurved spines; leaflets opposite, 3-8 pairs per pinna, 1-1.5 cm long, obliquely obovate to almost rounded, chartaceous, the apex rounded, the base rounded-obtuse, asymmetrical, the margins slightly revolute, sometimes ciliate; upper surface dark green, dull, glabrous; lower surface pale green, dull, with prominent venation; stipules 8-10 mm long, lanceolate. Heads 1.3-1.7 cm in diameter, in terminal racemes; peduncles 1-2 cm long, with numerous recurved spines. Calyx 0.7-1 mm long, glabrous; corolla pink, infundibuliform, ca. 2 mm long, with three petals or lobes; filaments white, 4-6 mm long. Legumes flattened, straight or slightly curved, 4-6 × 1.5-1.7 cm, coriaceous, dehiscent by the walls that separate from the thickened margin, covered with recurved spines. Seeds 7-8 mm long, oblongelliptical, flattened, dark brown.

Phenology: Flowering from June to January and fruiting from December to March.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 5152; 10512; Britton, N.L. 897; 1645; Goll, G.P. 406; Heller, A.A. 220; 6388; Shafer, J.A. 2717; Sintenis, P. 5050; Stevenson, J.A. 251; Underwood, L.M. 663.
less ↑

Caesalpinia major (Medic.) Dandy & Exell, J. Bot. Brit. & For. 76: 180. 1938.

Fig. 95. D-F

Basionym: Bonduc majus Medic.

Synonyms: Guilandina bonduc sensu Britton & Wilson, & Urb.

Caesalpinia globerulum Bakh. f. & van Royen

Liana or scandent shrub, which attains 15 m in length. Stems cylindrical, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, densely spiny. Leaves bipinnate, paripinnate, up to 60 cm long; pinnae 3-10 pairs, opposite; leaflets 4-8 pairs per pinna, opposite, 3.5-7.7 × 2.5-3.7 cm, elliptical, ovate, or oblong, chartaceous, glabrous or puberulent, the apex obtuse or acute, mucronate, the base unequal, rounded, or one side obtuse, the margins entire, revolute, ciliate; upper surface glabrous, slightly shiny; lower surface with the midvein prominent, glabrous or puberulent; petiolules short, puberulent; petioles and rachis spiny, puberulent; stipules minute, deciduous. Flowers in axillary racemes, up to 30 cm long; rachis tomentulose, unarmed; bracts lanceolate, long-acuminate, ca. 1 cm long, deciduous. Calyx campanulate, 6-7 mm long, tomentose, the sepals reflexed, oblong. Petals yellow, 6-7 mm long, spathulate; stamens 10, the filaments unequal, shorter than the petals; ovary pubescent, the style and stigma glabrous. Legumes broadly oblong, 6-12 × 3-6 cm, sparsely spiny. Seeds ovoid or rounded, 1.5-2.5 cm long, yellow-orange.

Phenology: Unknown.

Status: Native, uncommon.
less ↑

Calopogonium coeruleum (Benth.) Sauv., Anal. Acad. Ci. Habana 5: 337. 1869.

Fig. 98. A-F

Basionym: Stenolobium coeruleum Benth.

Slightly woody vine, twining, with many lateral branches, attainig 10 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, villous-pubescent on the younger portions. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets chartaceous, 5-10.5 × 3-8 cm, the apex obtuse or less frequently rounded, the base of the distal leaflet cuneate, that of the lateral ones asymmetrical and obtuse-truncate, the margins undulate, revolute; upper surface dark green, dull, pubescent, especially on the sunken venation; lower surface pale green, pubescent, with the venation yellowish, prominent. Inflorescences of axillary pseudoracemes, 12-45 cm long, with 4-5 flowers grouped on small mounds along the rachis; rachis thick, cylindrical, pubescent; pedicels ca. 5 mm long, pubescent. Calyx campanulate, 5-7 mm long, appressed-pubescent, the sepals lanceolate, 2.5-4 mm long; corolla blue, the standard ca. 1 cm long, oblanceolate. Legume tomentose, 3-8 × 0.7-1.0 cm, flattened, with the margins compressed between the seeds and the calyx persistent at the base. Seeds almost square, reddish brown, shiny, 4-5 mm wide.

Phenology: Flowering from November to February and fruiting from February to April.

Status: Exotic, naturalized, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9461; Axelrod, F. 4255; Britton, N.L. 2822; Liogier, A.H. 10540; Stevenson, J.A. 6847.
less ↑

Senna nitida (L.C. Rich.) Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 159. 1982.

Fig. 96. G-J

Basionym: Cassia nitida L.C. Rich.

Synonyms: Chamaefistula antillana Britton & Rose

Cassia antillana (Britton & Rose) Alain

Clambering or scandent shrub, which attains 2-5(10) m in length. Stems up to 2.5 cm in diameter, grayish, almost cylindrical; branches green, striate, glabrous or puberulent. Leaves alternate, pinnate; leaflets 4, opposite, ovate or elliptical, 6-12 × 2-4.5 cm, the distal pair larger, the apex acuminate, the base unequal or rounded, the margins slightly undulate, revolute; upper surface shiny, glabrous or puberulent, with the midvein sunken; lower surface glabrous, yellowish green, dull, punctate; petiolules swollen; rachis with a linear stipitate gland between the leaflets; petioles longer than the rachis, sulcate, swollen at the base. Inflorescences of axillary racemes, produced toward the end of the branches. Sepals oblong or ovate, ca. 5 mm long. Petals yellow, rounded, 1-2 cm long. Legume 10-18 × 1-1.5 cm, almost cylindrical, compressed along the suture, fleshy, producing a yellow exudate, oily and rancid. Seeds ca. 10 mm long, flattened, elliptical.

Phenology: Flowering from October to December.

Status: Native, relatively common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2224; 7189; 10530; 11207.
less ↑

Neorudolphia volubilis (Willd.) Britton in Britton & Wilson, Bot. Porto Rico 5: 426. 1924.

Fig. 109. A-H

Basionym: Rudolphia volubilis Willd.

Woody vine, twining, attainig 5-10 m in length. Stems strong, flexible, cylindrical, slightly flattened and with numerous lenticels when mature. Leaves alternate, unifoliolate; leaflets coriaceous, (5)6-13 × 4-9 cm, ovate or broadly ovate, the apex long- or short-acuminate, the base cordiform or less frequently truncate, the margins entire or sinuate, revolute; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, with slightly prominent venation and puberulent; lower surface yellowish green, with the reticulate venation prominent; petiolule thickened, pubescent, 4-5 mm long, with a pair of stipels at the base; petioles 2.5-5 cm long, sulcate, puberulent, with the base broadened. Inflorescences of cauliflorous or axillary pseudoracemes, pendulous, 12-24 cm long, the flowers in groups of 2-3 per node of the inflorescence; pedicels 10-12 mm long, pink; bracts minute, lanceolate. Calyx 2.5-3 cm long, pink, fleshy, almost campanulate, the sepals 5, two of which are broad and rounded, the remaining three lanceolate; corolla brilliant red, the standard ca. 5 cm long, oblong, folded in half longitudinally, enclosing the stamens, the remaining 4 petals (the wings and two petals homologous to the keel, which are not fused) ca. 1.5 cm long, linear and recurved; stamens 10, diadelphous, ca. 4 cm long, slightly exposed; ovary short-stipitate, with numerous ovules, the style slender, elongate, sericeous, the stigma punctiform. Fruit an oblong legume, flattened, 6-12 × 1-1.5 cm, pubescent, dehiscent by valves that open in a spiral. Seeds oblong or ovoid, 6-8 mm long, light brown.

Phenology: Flowering from June to December and fruiting from November to April.

Status: Endemic, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2984; Britton, N.L. 1059; 2010; Eggers, B. 1291; Shafer, J.A. 3227; Sintenis, P. 369; 1657; Stevenson, J.A. 240; Underwood, L.M. 91.
less ↑

Desmodium axillare (Sw.) Dc., Prodr. 2: 333. 1825.

Fig. 103. A-C

Basionym: Hedysarum axillare Sw.

Synonyms: Meibomia axillaris (Sw.) Kuntze

Meibomia umbrosa Britton

Meibomia sintenisii (Urb.) Britton

Decumbent or scandent herb, scarcely branched from the woody base, attainig 2 m in length. Stems more or less cylindrical, producing aerial roots in the area of the nodes, pubescence mixed, of uncinate trichomes and minute, erect trichomes, glabrescent with age. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets 3-9 × 2-6.5 cm, chartaceous, the apex obtuse, acute, or acuminate, usually mucronate, the margins entire, strigose; upper surface dark green, glabrous, puberulent on the venation; lower surface grayish green, strigose, with prominent venation; distal leaflet rhombic, with the base cuneate; lateral leaflets asymmetrical, one side elliptical, the other ovate, the base obtuse or rounded; petiolules 2-5 mm long, pilose; petioles 4.5-10.5 cm long, uncinatepubescent, striate; rachis 1-6 mm long, pilose, canaliculate; stipules ovate to lanceolate, 5-10 mm long, deciduous; stipels filiform, ca. 2 mm long. Inflorescences of axillary racemes, erect, 30-45 cm long, the axis pubescent, dark brown, with flowers paired along its length; pedicels 12-17 mm long. Calyx purple, campanulate, ca. 2 mm long, pilose; corolla pink or pale violet, ca. 4 mm long. Legume uncinate-pubescent, 0.7-1(2) cm long, crenate on the ventral suture, with (1)2(3) fertile segments. Seeds ca. 3.5 mm long, oblongelliptical, light brown.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit from January to August.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 194; 233; 7737; 7793; 10586; 11439.
less ↑

Galactia longifolia (Jacq.) Benth., Ann. Wien. Mus. 2: 127. 1838.

Fig. 105. I-L

Basionym: Galega longifolia Jacq.

Decumbent herb, branched from the base, the branches twining in the distal portion, attaining 2 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, sericeous, glabrescent with age. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets 2-6.5 × 0.4-1(1.3) cm, subcoriaceous, linear, oblong or narrowly elliptical, the apex obtuse or acute, mucronate, the base rounded, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, dull, strigulose; lower surface pale green, dull, strigose to almost sericeous, with the midvein prominent, the lateral leaflets smaller than the terminal one; petioles slender, pubescent, 1-10 mm long; rachis pubescent, longer than the petiole; stipules subulate, 1.5-3 mm long; stipels subulate, ca. 1 mm long, deciduous. Inflorescences of reduced, axillary pseudoracemes, usually with a single flower; rachis 1.7-5 cm long, strigulose or glabrescent. Calyx almost campanulate, green, strigose or strigulose, 3.5-5.5 mm long, the sepals 4, elongate, lanceolate, acuminate; corolla pink to pale violet, the standard obovate, 5-7 mm long, reflexed, the wings and the keel as long as the standard. Legume 2.5-3.7 × ca. 0.4 cm, oblonglinear, flattened, slightly curved, appressedpubescent. Seeds ca. 2.8 mm long, elliptical, light brown.

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

Status: Apparently native, but known from very few collections.

Selected Specimens Examined: Axelrod, F. 9753; Liogier, A, 37048.
less ↑

Acacia retusa (Jacq.) R. A. Howard, J. Arnold Arbor. 54: 459. 1973.

Fig. 117. A-F

Basionym: Mimosa retusa Jacq.

Synonyms: Mimosa paniculata West ex Vahl, non Willd.

Acacia westiana Dc.

Senegalia westiana (Dc.) Britton & Rose

Acacia riparia sensu Britton & Wilson, non Kunth

Liana that supports itself by means of recurved spines and attains 15 m in length. Stems cylindrical, quadrangular and sulcate when mature, attaining 10 cm in diameter, sometimes splitting into 4 longitudinal sections; branches angular, with numerous recurved spines. Leaves bipinnate, 6-13 cm long; pinnae 4-8 pairs; leaflets 16-32 pairs per pinna, 3-5 mm long, oblong, chartaceous, the apex obtuse, the base cordateobtuse, unequal, the margins entire; primary rachis flattened, usually aculeate, pubescent, with two stipitate annular glands, one in a distal position and another in a basal position; secondary rachis cylindrical, unarmed; petioles ca. 2 cm long, with the base slightly swollen; stipules minute, early deciduous. Inflorescences of terminal panicles of globose heads, 1-1.5 cm in diameter. Calyx campanulate, 0.6-1 mm long, glabrous; corolla white, campanulate, 2-2.5 mm long; stamens white, exserted. Legume flattened, 6-15 × 1.5-2 cm, glabrous or tomentose, chartaceous, the margin thickened, unarmed, dehiscent along both sutures.

Phenology: Flowering from July to December and fruiting from October to March.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2624; 3791; 4055; 5050; 5185; 11216; Britton, N.L. 15; 9776; Heller, A.A. 476; 6191; Shafer, J.A. 2344; Sintenis, P. 45; 1951; 2994; 5216; 5622; Stevenson, J.A. 2237; Underwood, L.M. 568; 665. Acacia vogeliana: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1; 3; 3242; 3794; 5047.
less ↑

Barbieria pinnata (Pers.) Baill., Hist. Pl. 2: 263. 1870.

Fig. 97. E-I

Basionym: Galactia pinnata Pers.

Synonyms: Clitoria pinnata (Pers.) R.H. Sm. & G.P. Lewis

Clitoria polyphylla Poir.

Barbieria polyphylla (Poir.) Dc.

Woody vine or clambering shrub, twining, attainig 4-10 m in length. Stems slender, much branched, striate, hirsute, glabrescent, coppercolored, with some whitish lenticels. Leaves alternate, imparipinnate; leaflets 11-21, chartaceous, oblong, 2-5.5 × 1.2-2.2 cm, the apex rounded and mucronate, the base rounded or obtuse, the margins entire, ciliate; upper surface pale green, dull, with inconspicuous venation; lower surface green, silky or whitish, pubescent, with the midvein prominent, yellowish, covered with minute hairs; petiolules 1-2 mm long, ferruginous-pubescent; petioles 1-4 cm long, pilose; rachis pilose, with a pair of stipels at the base of each pair of leaflets; stipels linear, 3-5 mm long; stipules lanceolate, 5-9 mm long, pubescent, persistent. Inflorescences of axillary racemes of few distal flowers, 4-16 cm long; bracts lanceolate, pubescent, forming an involucre at the base of the calyx. Calyx tubular, reddish, striate, 2.5-3.5 cm long, with five subulate sepals, acuminate, 0.8-1 cm long, the ventral sepals slightly longer than the lateral ones; corolla red or red-orange, the standard oblong-oblanceolate, unguiculate, 5-6 cm long, the wings oblong, 9-13 mm long, the keel elliptic-oblong, 17-23 mm long; stamens 10, staminal column white, the anthers white; ovary superior, linear, 8-11 mm long, white-pubescent. Legume subsessile, oblong, flattened, laterally compressed between the seeds, 5-7 × 0.5-0.6 cm, pubescent, with the margins sinuate and the calyx persistent at the base. Seeds 4-9 per fruit, dark brown or black, oblong, 4-6 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower from November to January and in fruit from January to May.

Status: Native, not very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7074; Goll, G.P. 937; Sintenis, P. 151; 5710; 5942; Stevenson, J.A. 248.
less ↑

Desmodium incanum Dc., Prodr. 2: 332. 1825.

Fig. 103. D-G

Synonym: Hedysarum canum J.F. Gmel.

Desmodium canum (J.F. Gmel.) Schinz & Thell.

Hedysarum supinum Sw.

Meibomia supina (Sw.) Britton

Decumbent or scandent herb, much branched from the woody base, attainig 1-1.5 m in length. Stems more or less cylindrical, appressedpubescent or pilose, glabrescent with age. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets 3-9 × 0.8-3.8 cm, elliptical, oblong, ovate, lanceolate, or exceptionally rounded, chartaceous, involute, the apex obtuse or acute, mucronate, the base obtuse or rounded, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, puberulent; lower surface grayish green, strigulose, with prominent venation; petiolules 1.5-3 mm long, pilose; petioles 0.7-3 cm long, pilose, canaliculate; rachis 3-10 mm long, pilose, canaliculate; stipules ovate to lanceolate, 6-10 mm long, persistent; stipels minute, subulate. Inflorescences of terminal pseudoracemes, 10-18 cm long, pubescent; bracts minute, persistent. Calyx green, campanulate, 2.5-3 mm long, strigulose; corolla pink or pink-violet, the standard ovate, 5-6 mm long, retuse, unguiculate at the base, the wings and the keel as long as the standard. Legume uncinate-pubescent, 2-4 cm long, crenate on the ventral suture, with 5-8 fertile segments. Seeds 2.5-3.5 mm long, oblongelliptical, light brown.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Apparently native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 864; 2291; 2518; 2785; 4159; 9417; 10492; 10587; 10925.
less ↑

Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb., Symb. Antill. 8: 292. 1920.

Fig. 103. H-M

Basionym: Hedysarum intortum Mill.

Decumbent or ascendent herb, branched from the base, attainig 3 m in length. Stems trigonal, densely covered with uncinate hairs. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets 4-7 × 2-5 cm, ovate, broadly ovate, or elliptical, chartaceous, the apex obtuse or acute, the base rounded, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, strigulose; lower surface pale green, more or less strigose, with prominent venation; petiolules 2.5-3 mm long, densely pilose; petioles 2-3.5 cm long, pilose, striate; rachis ca. 5 mm long, pilose; stipules ovate, acuminate, ca. 7 mm long, deciduous; stipels minute, subulate. Inflorescences of terminal or axillary pseudoracemes, uncinatepubescent. Calyx green, campanulate, puberulent, the tubular portion ca. 3 mm long, the inner sepal ca. 3.5 mm long, lanceolate, the rest ca. 1.5 mm long, deltate; corolla pink-violet, the standard ca. 9 mm long, retuse at the apex, unguiculate at the base, the wings and the keel as long as the standard. Legume uncinate-pubescent, ca. 2.5 cm long, crenate on both margins, with 6-11 fertile segments.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit during January and February.

Status: Native, relatively common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3761; 9430; 11447.
less ↑

Rhynchosia reticulata (Sw.) Dc., Prodr. 2: 385. 1825.

Fig. 111. I-K

Basionym: Glycine reticulata Sw.

Synonym: Dolicholus reticulatus (Sw.) Millsp.

Non-woody vine, twining, attainig 2-5 m in length. Stems slender, angular, striate, sometimes almost triangular, ferruginous-tomentose when young. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate, chartaceous; margins entire or slightly sinuate, revolute; upper surface dark green, dull, puberulent, with the venation sunken; lower surface pale green, lanatepubescent, with minute orange resinous dots, the venation prominent; terminal leaflet rhombic, 2-12 × 1-7 cm, the apex obtuse or rounded, the base cuneate or obtuse; lateral leaflets asymmetrical, elliptical-ovate, smaller than the terminal leaflet, the base obtuse-cuneate; petiolules tomentose, 1-3 mm long; rachis 4-8 mm long, tomentose; petiole tomentose, 2-5 cm long; stipules lanceolate, up to 10 mm long, sericeous; stipels minute, only on the distal leaflet. Inflorescence a raceme, up to 10(25) cm long, with few flowers. Calyx green, pilose, 6-10 mm long, the lobes lanceolate; corolla yellow, the standard 6-10 mm long, obovate to orbicular, emarginate, glabrous or puberulent; wings obovate, unguiculate, longer than the standard; ovary minutely sericeous. Legume oblong-ovate, falcate, flattened, with one margin straight and the other curved, minutely sericeous, 1.5-3 × 0.8-1.1 cm, the apex shortapiculate. Seeds usually two per fruit, circular, flattened, ca. 5 mm in diameter, light brown with dark brown spots.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 282; 880; 883; 2118; 2304; 2879; 3227; 3889; 4426; 5199; 7202; 10193; 10480; 11323; Britton, N.L. 229; 1605; Cowell, J.F. 754; Fosberg, F.R. 57539; Goll, G.P. 234; 246; 569; 585; 637; 691; 722; Heller, A.A. 28; 4418; Johnston, J.R. 1316; McKee 10646; Millspaugh 252; Sargent, F.H. 494; Shafer, J.A. 2363; Sintenis, P. 375; 3724; Stevenson, J.A. 1316; Telford 4; Underwood, L.M. 454; 619.
less ↑

Mucuna urens (L.) Dc., Prodr. 2: 405. 1825.

Fig. 108. I-M

Basionym: Dolichos urens L.

Synonym: Mucuna altissima (Jacq.) Dc.

Woody vine, twining, attainig 30 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, smooth, that turn blackish on drying, attaining up to 10 cm in diameter at the base and producing a watery sap with a pink color. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate, usually pendulous: leaflets coriaceous, glabrous, 7-14 × 4.5-7 cm, the margins entire, upper surface dark green, shiny, glabrous; lower surface light green (purple on juvenile leaflets), shiny, glabrous, with prominent puberulent venation; terminal leaflet elliptical or oblong, the apex acuminate, the base rounded; the lateral leaflets asymmetrical, elliptic-lanceolate, the apex acuminate, the base unequal, truncate-obtuse; petiolules slightly thickened, 5-6 mm long, glabrous or puberulent; stipels absent; petioles 4-9 cm long, striate, thickened at the base; stipules deciduous. Inflorescences of pendulous pseudoracemes; peduncles 1-1.5 m in length. Calyx 1.3-1.7 cm long, ferruginous-pubescent, with one of the sepals longer than the rest; pedicel ca. 2 cm long, ferruginous-pubescent; corolla blue-violet or cardinal red, the standard 3-4 cm long, the wings violet-pink, the keel yellowish, shorter than the wings. Legume woody, more or less oblong, flattened, 12-23 × 5-6 cm, the apex with a long point, the valves with prominent venation, like transverse ribs, which join at the ventral margin to form a sinuate projection, covered with rigid, rust-colored hairs, which separate with great facility and produce a sharp pain on contact. Seeds ca. 3.5 cm wide, circular, hard, brown with a black hilum along more than ¾ of the circumference.

Phenology: Collected in flower from October to April and in fruit in February.

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 269; 7799; 9405; 10200; Axelrod, F. 9325; Sintenis, P. 4785; 5041.
less ↑

Abrus precatorius L., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, 472. 1767.

Fig. 97. A-D

Slightly woody vine, twining, much branched from the base, attainig 3 m in length. Stems green, cylindrical, puberulent, turning dark gray, rugose, glabrous and slightly flattened when mature. Leaves alternate, pinnate, 3-5 cm long; leaflets 8-15 pairs, 0.8-1.5 × 0.3-0.7 cm, oblong or oblanceolate, membranaceous, the apex rounded and mucronate, the base rounded, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous, dull, with inconspicuous venation; lower surface puberulent, dull, with the midvein prominent; petiolules minute, slender; rachis without glands, puberulent, with a minute stipel at the base of each leaflet; petioles minute, slender, with the base slightly swollen; stipules filiform, 2-3 mm long, persistent. Inflorescences of small axillary or terminal pseudoracemes, with 5-7 flowers clustered on the swellings of the rachis; bracts minute, deciduous. Calyx campanulate, green, 3-5 mm long, puberulent; corolla pink, the standard ovate, with the center dark pink, up to 1 cm long, concave, the apex acute, the wings and keels as long as the standard, unguiculate. Legumes oblong, 2-4.5 × 1-1.5 cm, slightly inflated, with the apex elongate and recurved and the margins slightly undulate, opening along the two sutures. Seeds ellipsoid, brilliant red, with a black spot at the base, 6-8 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering from October to June and fruiting from November to September.

Status: Exotic, naturalized, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10486; 710; 2370; Britton, N.L. 150; Goll, G.P. 241; 521; 951; Heller, A.A. 603; Sargent, F.H. 634; Shafer, J.A. 2340; Sintenis, P. 8; Stevenson, J.A. 508; Underwood, L.M. 405; 967; Wetmore 234.
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Acacia vogeliana Steud., Nomencl. Bot. ed. 2, 1: 9. 1840.

Fig. 117. G-J

Synonyms: Lysiloma vogeliana (Steud.) Stehlé

Acacia ambigua Vogel, non Hoffmans.

Lysiloma ambigua (Vogel) Urb.

Liana, not spiny, that climbs by means of twining lateral branches and attains 10 m in length. Stems cylindrical, striate, puberulent. Leaves bipinnate, 6-13 cm long, puberulent; pinnae in 5 pairs, pulvinate, with a pair of linear glands above the pulvinus; rachis sulcate, puberulent, with an annular gland between the two pairs of basal and distal pinnae; leaflets 15-16 pairs per pinna, 5-10 mm long, oblonglanceolate, chartaceous, the apex obtuse, mucronulate, the base obtuse-rounded, unequal, the margins entire; both surfaces glabrous or minutely puberulent; stipules minute, early deciduous. Inflorescences of terminal panicles of heads, ca. 1 cm in diameter. Calyx campanulate, 0.6-1 mm long, strigose; corolla white or creamcolored, campanulate, strigose, 2-2.5 mm long; stamens white, exserted. Legumes 6-16 × 2.5-3 cm, oblong, flattened, chartaceous, glabrous, stipitate, with the seeds prominent, the margins thickened and slightly undulate. Seeds 4-6 mm long, elliptical, light brown.

Phenology: Collected in flower in August and in fruit in January.

Status: Native, very rare.

Commentary: The collections (Acevedo 1, 3, 3242 and 5047) by which this species is known from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands differ from the type collection (from Hispaniola) in having a climbing habit. The collections known from Hispaniola are all of trees or shrubs.
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Calopogonium mucunoides Desv., Ann. Sci.Nat. (Paris) Sér. 1, 9: 423. 1826.

Fig. 98. G-I

Synonym: Calopogonium orthocarpum Urb.

Slightly woody vine, twining or creeping, much branched, attainig 3-5 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, hirsute. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets chartaceous, 2-10 × 1.5-6.5 cm, the apex obtuse to almost rounded, the base of the terminal leaflet cuneate to rounded, and that of the lateral leaflets markedly asymmetrical (obtuse-subtruncate), the margins entire; both surfaces dull, appressed-pubescent; lower surface with prominent venation. Inflorescences of axillary pseudoracemes, up to 10 cm long; rachis hirsute; bracts subulate, persistent, ca. 7 mm long. Calyx campanulate, 7-8 mm long, hirsute, the sepals subulate, caudate at the apex; corolla blue or purple, the standard 6-7 mm long, emarginate. Legume oblong-linear, flattened, hirsute, 2-4 × 0.3-0.5 cm. Seeds almost quadrangular, ca. 3 mm wide, reddish brown, shiny.

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

Status: Exotic, naturalized, relatively common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7805; Britton, N.L. 400; 1007; Heller, A.A. 440; 4575; Stevenson, J.A. 308; Telford 6.
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Centrosema plumieri (Turp. ex Pers.) Benth., Comm. Leg. Gen. 54. 1837.

Fig. 100. A-F

Basionym: Clitoria plumieri Turp. ex Pers.

Synonym: Bradburva plumieri (Turp. ex Pers.) Kuntze

Non-woody vine, twining, attainig 5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, green, smooth, glabrous or puberulent. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets 4-11 × 3-8 cm, the apex acute, obtuse, or short-acuminate; margins undulate; upper surface slightly shiny, with the venation sunken, puberulent; lower surface dull, puberulent, with prominent venation; terminal leaflet deltate, ovate, or elliptical, with the base cuneate or cuneate-rounded; lateral leaflets oblong or elliptical, with the base asymmetrical, roundedtruncate; petiolules swollen, 3-4 mm long; petioles 6-10 cm long, slender, glabrous, with the base swollen; stipels linear, up to 10 mm long; stipules oblong-lanceolate, 10-12 mm long, with the venation conspicuously parallel. Flowers solitary or in pairs at the end of long axillary peduncles; bracteoles ovate, convex, 10-14 mm long. Calyx campanulate, 5-8 mm long, glabrous, with three lobes, ca. 2.5 mm long; corolla pink to cardinal red, abaxially appressed-pubescent, the standard 4.5-6 cm wide, rounded, cardinal red in the center and pink or whitish toward the edges, the wings ca. 3 × 1.5 cm, with the apex cardinal red, the keel white, ca. 3.5 cm long. Legume flattened, linear, 10-15 × 0.6-1 cm, the apex longacuminate, the margins thickened.

Phenology: Flowering from October to January and fruiting from January to February.

Status: Apparently native, relatively common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10168; 10786.
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Centrosema pubescens Benth., Ann. Wiener Mus. Naturgesh. 2: 119. 1837.

Fig. 100. G-I

Synonym: Bradburya pubescens (Benth.) Kuntze

Slightly woody vine, twining, attainig 8 m in length. Stems slender, appressed-pubescent. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets ovate, oblong, or elliptical, 3-8 × 1.6-4.5 cm, the apex acute or obtuse, the base rounded or obtuse, the margins entire; both surfaces glabrous to pubescent; upper surface with the venation sunken; lower surface with prominent venation; petiolules thickened, pubescent; petioles sulcate, almost quadrangular, 2-5 cm long, puberulent; stipels subulate, 2-2.5 mm long; stipules ovate, 2-4 mm long.

Flores solitary or in pairs at the end of bracteate, axillary peduncles, 5-10 cm long; bracts oblong, slightly longer than the calyx. Calyx asymmetrically campanulate, the tubular portion 5-7 mm long, with five very unequal lobes, the lateral ones deltate, ca. 1 mm long, the central ones subulate or linear, ca. 6 mm long; corolla pale violet, lavender, or less frequently yellowish or whitish with purple lines, the standard 2-4.5 cm wide, abaxially velvety, the wings and the keel shorter than the standard. Legume linear, 10-20 × 0.6 cm, the apex acuminate, with the margins ribbed, dehiscent by valves that twist on drying. Seeds 8-15 per fruit, oblong-quadrangular, dark brown, dull, 5-6 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering predominantly during the months from November to December, but may be found in flower from September to March.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 256; 1054; 6985; 9452; Axelrod, F. 10817; Britton, N.L. 2823; 6735; 7317; Heller, A.A. 210; 6084; Sargent, F.H. 122; Sintenis, P. 3080; 5588; Wetmore 175.
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Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth., Comm. Legum. Gen. 56. 1837.

Fig. 100. J-M

Basionym: Clitoria virginiana L.

Synonym: Bradburya virginiana (L.) Kuntze

Slightly woody vine, twining, attainig 6-7 m in length. Stems slender, strong, cylindrical, finely pubescent. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets 2.5-7 × 0.5-2 cm (the terminal one longer than the lateral ones), lanceolate, oblong, ovate, or linear, chartaceous, the apex acute or obtuse, mucronate, the base cuneate to rounded, the margins entire or crenate, ciliate, both surfaces glabrous or puberulent; lower surface with prominent venation; rachis 0.7-1.5 cm long; petioles 2.3-2.8 cm long, slender, sulcate, thickened; stipels narrowly subulate, 4-5 mm long; stipules subulate, 3-5 mm long, persistent, markedly veined. Flowers 1-4, at the end of a bracteate axillary peduncle; bracts ovate or ovatelanceolate, persistent, notably veined. Calyx green, asymmetrically campanulate, with five subulate, subequal lobes, the tubular portion ca. 2 mm long, the lateral lobes ca. 5 mm long, the central lobes 7-8 mm long; corolla lilac or almost white, the standard broadly ovate, 3-4 cm wide, white in the center with purple lines, the wings and keel unguiculate, much shorter than the standard. Legume linear, 10-13 × 0.3-0.4 cm, the apex acuminate, the margins ribbed, dehiscent by valves that twist on drying. Seeds numerous, 3-4 mm long, oblong, brown or light brown with dark brown spots.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting almost throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 715; 823; 1929; 2318; 3896; 4409; 5426; 6959; 7851; 7881; 9414; 11227; 11383; Britton, N.L. 7; 262; 8125; Fisher, M.J. 8; Goll, G.P. 8; 144; 377; 526; Heller, A.A. 926; 6415; McKee 10603; Sargent, F.H. 355; Shafer, J.A. 2345; Sintenis, P. 2306; 3573; Stevenson, J.A. 17; 30; 729; 2198.
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