Vines and Climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Funastrum clausum (Jacq.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 13: 283. 1914.

Fig. 32. G-J

Basionym: Asclepias clausa Jacq.

Synonym: Sarcostemma clausum (Jacq.) Schult.

Herbaceous vine, twining, 4-5 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, slender. Leaves opposite; blades 3-6 × 0.8-2 cm, elliptical or elliptic-lanceolate, the apex obtuse with a small, tapering point, the base obtuse or rounded, the margins entire; upper surface puberulous, with a prominent midvein, with a pair of triangular glands at the union with the petiole; lower surface pale green, dull, puberulous, with a prominent midvein; petioles 0.5-3 mm long, pubescent; stipules triangular, minute. Flowers numerous (10-20), arranged in umbelliform cymes; peduncle 4-12 cm long; pedicels 1-2 cm long, pubescent. Calyx green, the sepals triangular, pubescent on the outer surface, ca. 3 mm long; corolla rotate, white, pubescent outside, the lobes ovate, ca. 7 mm long; corona of oblongobovoid vescicles, white. Follicles cylindrical, 5-8 × 1 cm.

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

Status: Exotic, cultivated, although uncommon in the Virgin Islands.
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Poranopsis paniculata (Roxb.) Roberty, Candollea 14. 26. 1953.

Fig. 77. D-G

Basionym: Porana paniculata Roxb.

Slightly woody vine, twining, 5-7 m in length, with scarce watery latex. Stems slender, cylindrical, canescent. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 4-9 × 3-6.5 cm, chartaceous, ovate, palmatinerved, the apex acute, acuminate, or cuspidate, the base cordiform, the margins entire or slightly sinuate; upper surface pubescent, with the venation slightly prominent; lower surface densely pubescent, with prominent venation; petioles cylindrical, pubescent, 2-3.2 cm long. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, in axillary or terminal panicles, ascending, up to 17 cm long, with the axes tomentose; bracts oblong or lanceolate, minute, tomentose. Calyx green, canescent-tomentose, accrescent, the sepals free to the base, ca. 1.5 mm long, lanceolate; corolla white, infundibuliform, glabrous, 4.5-6 mm long, the limb 5-lobed; stamens 5, not exserted, the filaments very short, of equal size; ovary superior, with an annular disc at the base, unicarpellate, with two basal ovules, the style very short, the stigma globose or bilobate, green, not exserted. Fruit indehiscent, ovoid-globose, 5-6 mm long, with the three outer sepals accrescent; seed usually one, ovoid or subglobose.

Phenology: Collected in flower from November to February.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized in disturbed areas, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9293; Goll, G.P. 525; Liogier, A.H. 30239; Stevenson, J.A. 6924.
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Aristolochia anguicida Jacq., Enum. Syst. Pl. 30. 1760.

Fig. 21. A-D

Slightly woody vine, twining, attaining 5 m in length. Branches puberulous, sulcate. Leaves alternate; blades 4.5-15 × 3.5-9 cm, lanceolatedeltoid or ovate, chartaceous, the apex acute to obtuse, the base cordiform or subtruncate, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous or puberulous; lower surface puberulous, the venation not prominent; petioles 2-6.5 cm long, puberulous; pseudostipules reniform or circular, 1.5-3.5 cm long. Flowers cream-colored with cardinal red spots, solitary; peduncle ca. 4.5 cm long; utricle obovoid, 6-13 mm long, the tube 1-2 cm long, expanding toward the limb into an infundibuliform structure, with one lobe or elongate lip erect on the upper margin, the limb up to 2.5 cm wide. Capsule cylindrical, 2.2-3.8 cm long; seeds membranaceous, broadly ovate, 5.5-6.8 mm long, with a surrounding wing.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native to South America, apparently cultivated on St. Croix.
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Trichostigma octandrum (L.) H. Walter, Pflanzenr. 4(83): 109. 1909.

Fig. 138. I-M

Basionym: Rivina octandra L.

Clambering shrub or liana, with pendulous branches, attainig 5-10(-30) m in length. Stems cylindrical, 5-15 cm in diameter. Branches glabrous, with numerous lenticels. Leaves alternate, chartaceous, elliptical or oblong, 4-9(13) × 1.7-4(6) cm, the apex acute or acuminate, the base acute or obtuse, sometimes unequal, the margins crenulate; upper surface dark green, dull, glabrous, with the venation reticulate, inconspicuous; lower surface light green, dull, with the midvein prominent, sometimes the secondary veins, the tertiary veins inconspicuous; petioles 0.5-1.5(3) cm long, with a yellowish or pink tinge, sulcate, swollen at the base; stipules absent. Inflorescences of axillary racemes, up to 15 cm long; peduncle glabrous or puberulent; pedicels 4-7 mm long, with a minute green bracteole, filiform, below or above the middle. Sepals 4, white, 3-5 mm long, oblong or elliptical, concave; petals absent; stamens 8-16; stigmas sessile, capitate, with numerous filiform branches. Fruit fleshy, globose or ellipsoid, purple, 5-7 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from April to October.

Status: Native, very common.

Commentary: In Guilarte and Río Abajo there are several populations of Trichostigma that differ from Trichostigma octandrum in having scabrous leaves with the tertiary and quaternary venation very conspicuous. The recognition of these populations at the specific or subspecific level is not possible because there are no other significant morphological differences.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 628; 4347; 4731; 5354; 5447; 11350; Britton, N.L. 113; 1705; 2241; Cowell, J.F. 758; Heller, A.A. 1165; Sargent, F.H. 205; Shafer, J.A. 2835; Sintenis, P. 921; 1016; 3931; Stevenson, J.A. 1885; 2500.
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Bougainvillea glabra Choisy in Dc., Prodr. 13(2): 437. 1849.

Fig. 129. A-F

Woody vine or shrub, clambering, attainig 15 m in length. Stem cylindrical, attaining 5-6 cm in diameter; cross section of the stem with discrete vascular bundles within the connective tissue. Branches pubescent, puberulent, or glabrous, with straight, axillary spines. Leaves alternate or subopposite, 3-6 × 1.5-3 cm, chartaceous, elliptical, puberulent, the apex acuminate, the base attenuate, slightly asymmetrical, the margins slightly sinuate; lower surface with the midvein prominent; petioles slender, 4-12 mm long. Dichasial cymes compound, on axillary branches or at the end of axillary spines, the axes glabrous or puberulent; bracts ovate, glabrous, cordiform at the base, 2.5-4 cm long, of showy colors, red, deep pink, orange, white, or purple. Perianth tubular-hypocrateriform, 2.5-3 mm long, pubescent, with 8-10 obtuse lobes, cream-colored. Anthocarp fusiform, glabrous, ca. 1.5 cm long.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year.

Status: Exotic, very common in our gardens.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 11237.
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Vigna peduncularis (Kunth) Fawcett & Rendle, Fl. Jam. 4(2): 68. 1920.

Fig. 116. A-D

Basionym: Phaseolus peduncularis Kunth

Herbaceous vine, creeping or climbing twining, attainig 2 m in length. Stems branched from the base, slender, almost cylindrical, puberulent, usually producing roots in the area of the nodes. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets chartaceous, ovate-deltate or lanceolate, 3-8 × 1.5-5 cm, both surfaces glabrous, the venation slightly prominent on the lower surface, the apex acute, acuminate, or less frequently obtuse, the base cuneate, the margins entire, slightly ciliate; terminal leaflet larger than the lateral ones; lateral leaflets asymmetrical at the base, one side obtuse, the other cuneate or truncate; petiolules ca. 3 mm long, puberulent; rachis 5-10 mm long, striate; petioles 2-7 cm long, striate, slender, glabrous; stipels obovate, ca. 1 mm long; stipules oblong or lanceolate, 2-2.5 mm long. Pseudoracemes axillary, up to 26 cm long, the flowers 2 per node, in the distal portion of the inflorescence; peduncles thick, glabrous or puberulent; pedicels ca. 1 mm long, erect, with the calyx in an ascending position. Calyx green, campanulate, puberulent, 2.2-2.5 mm long, the sepals more or less equal, broadly deltate, except for the abaxial one, which is narrower and slightly longer; corolla pale pink, standard obovate, unguiculate, ca. 8 mm long, the wings and the keel as long as the standard, the wings oblong, sinuate, unguiculate, the keel spirally twisted. Legumes ascendent, linear, flattened, straight, with the margins slightly undulate, 4-5.5 cm long, ca. 3 mm wide, puberulent, punctate. Seeds oblong, ca. 3.5 mm long, light brown with blackish spots, the hilum white, ca. 2 mm long.

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

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 310; 10567; 10723; 10778; 11640. Vigna unguiculata: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9411; 10859; Britton, N.L. 1464; Goll, G.P. 1061; Sintenis, P. 2910; Stevenson, J.A. 2176.
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Canavalia nitida (Cav.) Piper, Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 20: 562. 1925.

Fig. 99. F-G

Basionym: Clementea nitida Cav.

Synonym: Canavalia rusiosperma Urb.

Woody vine, twining, with numerous pendulous branches, attainig 15-18 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous or puberulent, thick, the bark light brown, almost smooth. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets coriaceous, elliptical, oval, or oblong, involute, 6.5-12 × 3-5.5 cm, the apex obtuse, acute, or rounded, the base rounded, asymmetrical on the lateral leaflets, the margins slightly revolute, thickened, both surfaces glabrous, with the venation slightly prominent; petiolules cylindrical, pubescent, 4-5 mm long; petioles 4-5 cm long, with the base swollen; stipels absent; stipules minute, deciduous. Inflorescences of axillary pseudoracemes, 13-23 cm long, the flowers in groups of three or four on each nodal swelling along the rachis; pedicels 5-6 mm long, puberulent. Calyx greenish, shiny, 15-18 mm long, pubescent; corolla violet-pink, the standard orbicular, ca. 2.5 cm long, with the center pale yellow, the keel and the wings ca. 1.5 cm long. Legume woody, brown, up to 20 × 5 cm, the valves with two slight ribs on the sides of the suture. Seeds ca. 2 cm long, almost circular or ellipsoid, crimson with the hilum black.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from August to February.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Britton, N.L. 4151; Prey, N. s.n.; Shafer, J.A. 2823; Sintenis, P. 452.
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Caesalpinia culebrae (Britton & Wilson)Alain, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 90: 187. 1963.

Fig. 94. G

Basionym: Guilandina culebrae Britton & Wilson

Scandent shrub, with many lateral branches along the main stem, attainig 2 m in length. Stems cylindrical, unarmed, finely pubescent. Leaves bipinnate, paripinnate, ca. 22 × 14 cm; pinnae 7-8 pairs, opposite; leaflets 5-7 pairs per pinna, opposite, 1-1.5 × 0.9-1.4 cm, elliptical or ellipticobovate, chartaceous, the apex rounded, emarginate, the base unequal, one side rounded, the other obtuse, the margins entire, revolute, ciliate; upper surface glabrous, slightly punctate; lower surface puberulent, with the midvein prominent; petiolules short, tomentulose; petioles and rachis unarmed, tomentulose; stipules minute, deciduous. Flowers in axillary racemes, 6-10 cm long; rachis tomentulose; bracts lanceolate, with the apex caudate, ca. 4 mm long, deciduous. Calyx campanulate, ca. 8 mm long, tomentose, the sepals reflexed, oblong. Petals yellow, 7-8 mm long, spathulate. Legumes elliptic-circular, ca. 7 × 4 cm, flattened, unarmed, apiculate at the apex. Seeds globose, ca. 1.7 cm in diameter, yelloworange.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit in March.

Status: Endemic, known from Culebra from very few collections.
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Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Sauv., Anal. Acad. Ci. Habana 5: 405. 1868.

Fig. 119. E-H

Scandent shrub, much branched from the base, that supports itself on other plants by means of spines that are borne along the length of its stem and leaf axes, attainig 1.5-2 m in length. Stems pentagonal, pilose, with numerous recurved spines along the angles. Leaves alternate, 5-13 cm long, bipinnate; pinnae 6 or 7, pairs opposite; leaflets opposite, 18-15 pairs per pinna, 2.5-4.2 mm long, oblong, chartaceous, the apex obtuse, the base asymmetrically obtusetruncate; both surfaces strigulose; lower surface pale green, dull, with the midvein sunken; rachis very slender, pilose, with some recurved spines; stipules subulate, ca. 4.5 mm long; stipels linear, ca. 1.5 mm long. Heads 7-10 mm in diameter, axillary; peduncles with numerous recurved spines, 6-15 mm long. Calyx ca. 0.2 mm long, glabrous; corolla pink, infundibuliform, ca. 1.2 mm long, with 4(5) lobes; filaments pink, 3-5 mm long. Legumes usually 10 or more per head, oblong or linear, flattened, straight or slightly curved, 10-24 × 3-4.3 mm, chartaceous, covered with spines, especially along the margin. Seeds 3-8, 2.3-3 mm long, flattened, ovate or rhombic, dark brown.

Phenology: Collected in flower in December.

Status: Exotic, adventive, of recent introduction, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7045.
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Mikania cordifolia (L.f.) Willd., Sp. Pl. 3: 1746. 1804.

Fig. 35. E-H

Basionym: Cacalia cordifolia L.f.

Synonyms: Mikania gonoclada Dc.

Mikania convolvulacea Dc.

Slightly woody vine, twining, 2-5 m in length. Stems pubescent, octagonal, striate. Leaves opposite; blades 7-12 × 3.5-7.4 (9) cm, ovate, slightly aromatic, chartaceous, the apex acute, the base cordiform or subcordiform, the venation with three main veins, the margins serrate, upper surface dull green, puberulous; lower surface glaucous, densely pubescent, with prominent venation; petioles 5-4 cm long, sulcate; pseudostipules divided in lanceolate segments, whitish. Capitula numerous, arranged in axillary corymbiform cymes; subinvolucral bract linear to lanceolate, 4-5 mm long, pilose; phyllaries elliptical or narrowly ovate, 6-8 mm long, green, pubescent; corollas white, infundibuliform, aromatic; anthers brown, connate, exserted. Achenes prismatic, with 5 longitudinal ribs, ca. 3 mm long, grayish, scabrid; pappus of numerous white setae, scabrous, ca. 4.5 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from November to March.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Abbott 1532; Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3739; 4109; 4215; 7124; 7809; 9343; Boom, B. 7071; Britton, N.L. 368; 1669; 2349; 8578; Heller, A.A. 211; 4664; 6334; 6379; Liogier, A.H. 10646; Shafer, J.A. 2644; Sintenis, P. 204; 3052; 6194; Stevenson, J.A. 1154.
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Mikania micrantha Kunth in Humb. Bonpl. & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. (quarto ed.) 4: 134. 1818.

Fig. 36. E-H

Herbaceous vine, twining, attaining 10 m or more in length. Stems pubescent, angular, striate. Leaves opposite; blades 6-13 × 3-8 cm, ovate, chartaceous, 3-5-nerved, the apex acuminate, the base cordiform, the margins dentate; upper surface slightly shiny, puberulous; lower surface puberulous, with the venation somewhat prominent; petioles sulcate, glabrous or puberulous, as long as or shorter than the blade; pseudostipules forming an interpetiolar ring of lanceolate segments, early deciduous. Capitula numerous, pedunculate, arranged in corymbiform or paniculiform cymes, terminal on short lateral branches; subinvolucral bracts subulate, 2-3 mm long, glabrous; phyllaries ovate-oblong or elliptical, green, 3-4 mm long; corolla white, infundibuliform, slightly fragrant, 2.5-3 mm long; anthers exserted. Achenes ca. 1.2 mm long, dark gray to black, pentagonal; pappus of numerous white bristles, 2-3 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit from November to February.

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 13; 7052; 7136; 9406; 10529; 10626; 10751; 11885; V‚lez, I. 3196.
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Bidens reptans (L.) G. Don. in Sweet, Hort. Brit. ed. 3, 360. 1839.

Fig. 33. D-G

Basionym: Coreopsis reptans L.

Herbaceous vine, climbing or clambering, 2-5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous or puberulous, striate. Leaves opposite, 3-5-foliolate or 3-5-lobed; leaflets lanceolate or elliptical, membranaceous, the apex acuminate, the base acute in the terminal leaflet and unequal in the lateral ones, the margins serrate; upper and lower surface puberulous; petioles 1-1.8 cm long, glabrous. Capitula (1-3) in corymbs, produced at the tips of short axillary branches; involucre ca. 7 mm high, phyllaries in two series, revolute; corollas yellow, those of the margin with ligules ca. 1 cm long; anthers dark brown; stigmas yellow. Achenes linear, 6-10 mm long, compressed, 4-angled, with ascending hairs on the margins; pappus of 2 setae with retroflexed hairs.

Phenology: Flowering from October to July.

Status: Native, quite common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 160; 3734; 7807; Britton, N.L. 1559; 7452; Goll, G.P. 572; Heller, A.A. 874; 6081; Sargent, F.H. 481; Sintenis, P. 2919; Stevenson, J.A. 2404.
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Combretum indicum (L.) Jongkind, Fl. Gabon 35: 48. 1999.

Basionym: Quisqualis indica L.

Fig. 61. E-G

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

Phenology: Flowering from July to March.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7140; 11217; 11493; Heller, A.A. 974; Sintenis, P. 996; 5134; Stevenson, J.A. 54.
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Heteropterys laurifolia (L.) A. Juss., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Sér. 2. 13: 176. 1840.

Fig. 121. A-F

Basionym: Banisteria laurifolia L.

Vine or sometimes scandent shrub, woody, twining, attainig 5-10 m in length. Stems flexible, cylindrical, lenticellate, attaining 3.5 cm in diameter. Leaves opposite, 5-15(23.5) × 2-9(13.5) cm, coriaceous, glabrous, oblong or elliptical, the apex acuminate or rounded, the base acute, the margins undulate or entire; upper surface shiny, with the midvein prominent, yellowish green; lower surface yellowish green, with the midvein prominent; petioles 1-1.2 cm long, without glands. Inflorescences of panicles, terminal or axillary, the axes densely ferruginous-pubescent; pedicels ca. 7 mm, ferruginous-pubescent, articulated above the base; bracts ca. 2 mm long, at the base of the pedicel; bracteoles in pairs, minute, inserted on the articulation of the pedicel. Calyx green, ferruginous-pubescent, of 5 oblong sepals, ca. 4 mm long, 4 of them with a pair of glands at the base of the outer surface, which are 1.2-2 mm long. Petals 5, yellow, unguiculate, 4-7 mm long. Mericarps 3, ferruginous-tomentose in the seminiferous portion, glabrous toward the wing, 2-4 cm long, with a dorsal wing, curved, ascendent or divaricate.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common throughout Puerto Rico.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3072; 5231; 5232; 7080; 7157; 7230; 10197; 10840; Axelrod, F. 10757; 10904; Britton, N.L. 426; 1510; Hartley 13368; Heller, A.A. 1320; 4406; Proctor, G.R. 44917; Sargent, F.H. 421; Sintenis, P. 101; 1559; 1693; 3286; 3809; 5068; Stevenson, J.A. 2187; Underwood, L.M. 481; 618.
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Solanum wendlandii Hook. f., Bot. Mag. t. 6914. 1887.

Fig. 155. J-L

Slightly woody vine, scandent, attainig several meters in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, unarmed or less frequently with some minute recurved spines. Leaves alternate, deeply (3)5-7-pinnatilobate or sometimes simple, 4.5-7.5-17 × 4.6-12 cm, membranaceous, glabrous, with numerous minute dots, elliptical when simple, 4.5-14 × 4.6-7.5, the apex short-acuminate, the base obtuse to almost rounded; segments or lobes elliptical or oblong-elliptical, usually asymmetrical, the apex acute or acuminate, the margins entire; lower surface dull, the primary vein prominent, sometimes with recurved spines; petioles glabrous, 3-6.5 cm long, usually narrowly winged, sometimes with recurved spines. Flowers unisexual, in terminal pseudodichotomous panicles, 8-20 cm long, glabrous; pedicels glabrous, 1-1.7 cm long. Staminate flowers: calyx green, cyathiform, glabrous, 5-7 mm long, with 5 ovate-deltate or ovate lobes, 1-3 mm long, apiculate at the apex; corolla lavender, rotate, pentagonal, 3.5-6 cm wide, the lobes apiculate, ciliate; anthers oblong, 9-10.5 mm long, not connivent, dehiscent by terminal pores and by longitudinal sutures, the filaments thick, unequal. Pistillate flowers and fruits not observed.

Phenology: Collected in flower from April to October.

Status: Exotic, cultivated as an ornamental and escaped from cultivation (according to Liogier, 1995), although not very common. The plants of this species that are found in cultivation seem to be all male, and apparently reproduce asexually.
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Tropaeolum majus L., Sp. Pl. 345. 1753.

Fig. 156. A-I

Herbaceous vine, scandent or creeping, attainig 2-3 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, fleshy. Leaves alternate, ascendent, simple, more or less circular, peltate, 5-8 cm in diameter, membranaceous, glabrous; upper surface dark green, dull, with the venation light; lower surface pale green; petioles glabrous, 5.5-15(25) cm long. Flowers solitary, axillary, ascendent; pedicels glabrous, as long as or longer than the petioles. Calyx yellow or pale orange, the sepals unequal, ovate, oblong, 2-2.3 cm long, the spur straight or slightly curved, up to 3 cm long; petals orange or red, obovate, longunguiculate, 3-4 cm long, three of them longciliate on the margin adjacent to the claw; anthers lanceolate, the filaments slender, unequal; ovary trilobate, glabrous. Fruit tricoccal, ca. 10 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower in February.

Status: Exotic, cultivated as an ornamental and naturalized, although not very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10201.
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Tecomaria capensis (Thunb.) Spach, Hist. Nat. Veg. Phan. 9: 137. 1840.

Fig. 48. A-C

Basionym: Bignonia capensis Thunb.

Synonym: Tecoma capensis (Thunb.) Lindl.

Clambering or semi-erect shrub, 3-4 m in length. Stems cylindrical, lenticellate, puberulous; cross section of the mature stem with peripheral phloem not forming a cross. Leaves opposite, imparipinnate, 7-11-foliolate, without tendrils; leaflets 1.5-4.2 × 1-3 cm, elliptical to subrounded, membranaceous, sessile, puberulent, the apex rounded, the base rounded or abruptly cuneate, the margins serrate; upper surface dull, pale, with slightly prominent venation; lower surface light green, dull, punctate, with slightly prominent venation, forming a conspicuous network, with tufts of hairs in the axils; petioles 1.5-2.5 cm long; pseudostipules absent. Flowers numerous, in axillary racemes; pedicel 6-10 mm long. Calyx green, crateriform, 5-7 mm long, 5-dentate, ciliate, puberulent; corolla orange or reddish orange, tubular, curved, 3.5-5 cm long, with 5 oblong, unequal lobes, the 2 upper lobes smaller than the 3 lower; stamens 4, of equal length, exserted; ovary superior, oblong, glabrous, with a crateriform disc at the base. Capsule linear, 5-11 cm long and 7-8 mm wide; seeds in 2 rows, slender, 2-winged, the wings hyalinemembranaceous.

Phenology: Collected in flower in February and March.

Status: Exotic, cultivated, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 11353; Morrow, C.F. 61; Shafer, J.A. 1474.
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Sicana odorifera (Vell.) Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Sér. 4: 18. 181. 1862.

Fig. 88. F-G

Basionym: Cucurbita odorifera Vell.

Herbaceous vine, climbing by tendrils, attaining 8 m or more in length. Stems green, thick, sulcate, puberulent or glabrescent; tendrils axillary, 5-fid, 9-11 cm long. Leaves alternate; blades 10-20 × 10-20 cm, 3-5 (7)-lobed, chartaceous, the lobes deep, acute, the base cordiform, the margins undulate or denticulate; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, glabrous; lower surface pale green, with prominent venation, glabrous; petioles 7-13 cm long, slender, canaliculate or slightly winged, villous. Flowers unisexual, ascending, solitary, axillary; peduncle shorter than the accompanying leaf. Calyx green, campanulate, 6-8 mm long, tomentose, the lobes reflexed, 10-12 mm long, lanceolate; corolla yellow, campanulate, 2.5-4 cm long, tomentose; stamens 3; staminodia 3; ovary ovoid, 5-6 mm long, puberulent. Berry pendulous, cylindrical or ellipsoid, 30-50 cm long and ca. 10 cm in diameter, yellowish brown or mulberry-colored; seeds, numerous, asymmetrically ovate, compressed, with the margin darker, 13.5-15 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit during August.

Status: Exotic, cultivated, common.
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Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britton & Rose, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 12: 430. 1909.

Fig. 55. F-G

Basionym: Cactus grandiflorus L.

Liana with numerous lateral branches, which climbs by aerial roots, attaining 6 m in length. Stems fleshy, 2-2.5 cm in diameter, cylindrical, with 5-8 ribs; areoles prominent, along the ribs, covered with spines and whitish lanate hairs, the spines acicular, 5-8 mm long, yellowish, in groups of 5. Flowers solitary, pendulous, axillary to the group of spines or terminal, 15-18 cm long; perianth infundibuliform, the tube elongate, densely lanate outside; outer tepals linear, salmoncolored; inner tepals whitish, obovate; stamens numerous, in two series, inserted. Berry ovoid, red or yellowish, ca. 8 cm long; seeds numerous, minute, black, covered with a white pulp.

Phenology: Collected in flower in June.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1874; 2835.
less ↑

Gouania polygama (Jacq.) Urb., Symb. Antill. 4: 378. 1910.

Fig. 144. I-N

Basionym: Rhamnus polygamus Jacq.

Synonym: Gouania tomentosa Jacq.

Woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 8-15 m in length. Stems grayish, attaining 3 cm in diameter. Branches green, ferruginous-tomentose, slightly striate; tendrils simple, semicircular, basal to the inflorescences or distal on short lateral branches. Leaves alternate, 5-15 × 3.2-7.5 cm, broadly elliptical, oblong, or ovate, chartaceous, the apex obtuse, acute, or short-acuminate, the base subcordiform or rounded, the margins serrate; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, pubescent; lower surface pale green, dull, pilose, with prominent venation; petioles 1-1.5 cm long, pubescent. Inflorescences of axillary or terminal racemes, 10-22 cm long. Calyx 1.5-2 mm long, cupuliform, whitish, tomentose, the sepals ovate, 0.7-1 mm long; petals whitish, ca. 1 mm long, spathulate, enclosing the stamens; stamens as long as the petals; disc almost pentagonal, fleshy; styles 3. Fruit a three-winged schizocarp, 8-12 mm long, dehiscent into 3 indehiscent mericarps, trigonal, with a wing on each side of the seminiferous center. Seeds ovate, light brown, shiny, ca. 3 mm long.

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

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7139; 7811; Sargent, F.H. s.n.; 351; Sintenis, P. 36; 3566; 5577.
less ↑

Saritaea magnifica (W. Bull) Dugand, Caldasia 3: 263. 1945.

Fig. 47. F-H

Basionym: Bignonia magnifica W. Bull

Liana that climbs by tendrils, 3-7 m in length. Stems cylindrical, lepidote, compressed at the nodes, interpetiolar zone not glandular; cross section of the mature stem normal. Leaves opposite, 2-foliolate, sometimes with a simple tendril, of short duration; leaflets 4.2-11.5 × 3.1-6.4 cm, obovate, chartaceous, with the venation slightly prominent on both surfaces, the apex obtuse, the base cuneate or decurrent, the margins entire; upper surface dull, minutely lepidote; lower surface dull, sparsely lepidote, with domatia in the axils of the basal secondary veins; petioles and petiolules lepidote, the petioles 1.7-2.8 cm long, the petiolules 0.3-1.6 cm long; pseudostipules foliaceous, 0.6-4.2 cm long. Flowers few, in corymbiform panicles, usually terminal; pedicels 4-6 mm long. Calyx yellowish green, simple, crateriform, 7-8 mm long, truncate, lepidote; corolla purple-pink, tubularcampanulate, 8-9 cm long, glabrous or minutely glandular, the tube pubescent inside, the throat white inside with purple-pink lines, the lobes unequal, 2.2-3.1 cm long; stamens 4, didynamous, inserted; ovary linear, ca. 4 mm long, glandularlepidote, with two locules, the ovules in 2 series per locule; disc hypocrateriform-pulviniform, 1 mm high. Capsule linear, compressed, coriaceous, brown, 20-25 × 1-1.2 cm; seeds numerous, oblong, 2-winged, the hyaline wings membranaceous.

Phenology: Collected in flower from September to December.

Status: Exotic, cultivated, uncommon in Puerto Rico.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 6992.
less ↑

Stigmaphyllon bannisterioides (L.) C. Anderson, Taxon 41: 328. 1992.

Fig. 122. A-C

Basionym: Malpighia bannisterioides L.

Synonyms: Banisteria ovata Cav.

Stigmaphyllon ovatum(Cav.) Niedenzu

Brachypterys ovata (Cav.) Small

Woody vine, twining, attainig 3-6 m in length. Stems cylindrical, sericeous when young. Leaves opposite, ovate, elliptical, or lanceolate, 4-12 × 1.5-5.5 cm, chartaceous, the apex acute, obtuse, or sometimes apiculate, the base attenuate, obtuse, or truncate, with a pair of annular glands in the area adjacent to the petiole, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous or glabrescent; lower surface sparsely sericeous; petiole slightly sulcate, sericeous, 0.4-1.8 cm long; stipules minute, triangular. Inflorescences of umbels with (3)4(6) flowers, axillary, solitary or in dichasial cymes, with a pair of broadly ovate leaves of reduced size at the base; peduncles 0.2-2.5 mm long; pedicels 15-30 mm long, cylindrical; bracteoles 0.8-1.6 mm long, ovate, elliptical, or triangular. Calyx of 5 ovate sepals, sericeous, ca. 3 mm long, four of them with a pair of elongate glands outside at the base. Petals yellow, rounded or obovate, unequal, 9-12 mm long, unguiculate; stamens unequal; styles equal or almost equal. Mericarps with the wing reduced to an apical crest, 4-9 mm long, the seminiferous portion with 4-6 ribs.

Phenology: Flowering from December to July and fruiting from February to July.

Status: Native, quite rare.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9345.
less ↑

Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides (Kunth) Cabrera, Brittonia 7: 54. 1950.

Fig. 39. D-G

Basionym: Senecio chenopodioides Kunth

Synonym: Senecio confusus Britten

Herbaceous vine, twining, 10-12 m in length. Stems striate, subcylindrical, glabrous or puberulous. Leaves alternate; blades 5-8 × 2.5-5 cm, lanceolate, membranaceous, the apex acuminate or acute, the base truncate, obtuse, or slightly cordiform, frequently unequal, the margins dentate-mucronate; upper surface dull, glabrous; lower surface dull, glabrous, with prominent venation; petioles 1.5-2.2 cm long. Capitula 2-6, pedunculate, in terminal corymbiform cymes; peduncles 2-5 cm long, puberulous; involucre crateriform, ca. 6 mm long, the phyllaries green, lanceolate, ca. 4 mm long. Disc flowers with yellow tubular corollas, 9-10 mm long; stigmatic branches yellow. Ray flowers with orange corollas, ligulate, the ligule elliptical,retuse at the apex, 2-2.5 cm long. Achenes turbinate, hispidulous, ca. 4 mm long; pappus of numerous white bristles, 5-7 mm long, scabrous.

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

Status: Naturalized exotic, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Liogier, A.H. 36008; Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7238; 9420; 11352.
less ↑

Podranea ricasoliana (Tanfani) Sprague in Thiselton-Dyer, Fl. Cap. 4 (2): 450. 1904.

Fig. 46. D-G

Basionym: Tecoma ricasoliana Tanfani

Liana or clambering shrub, 3-4 m in length. Stems cylindrical, smooth; cross section with peripheral phloem not forming a cross. Leaves opposite, imparipinnate, 7-9-foliolate, without tendrils; leaflets 2.5-3.8 × 1.5-2.0 cm, ovate, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex obtuse or shortacuminate, the base truncate, cuneate, or attenuate, the margins serrate; upper surface dull, with the venation flat, dark; lower surface light green, punctate, dull, with prominent venation; rachis glabrous, marginate, petioles and petiolules glabrous, the petioles 2.5-5 cm long, the petiolules 4-8 mm long; pseudostipules absent. Flowers in terminal panicles; pedicels 1.5-2 cm long. Calyx green with a pink tinge, campanulate, 1.5-2 cm long, with 5 apiculate lobes; corolla violet-pink, campanulate, 5-7 cm long, the tube white with reddish purple lines, the limb ca. 5 cm in diameter, with 5 rounded lobes, unequal, stamens inserted; ovary glabrous. Capsule linear, coriaceous, cylindrical, 25-30 cm long; seeds numerous, ca. 1.5 cm long, brown, with 2 marginal wings, ca. 5 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower from August to May and in fruit in February.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and sometimes naturalized.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7920.
less ↑

Doyerea emetocathartica Grosourdy, Med. Bot. Criollo 2: 338. 1864.

Fig. 83. C-F

Synonyms: Corallocarpus emetocatharticus (Grosourdy) Cogn.

Anguria glomerata Eggers

Herbaceous vine, dioecious, climbing by tendrils, attaining 10 m or more in length. Stems green, cylindrical, fleshy, fragile, glabrous, producing abundant watery latex, much branched from the base, which bears tuberous roots; tendrils axillary, simple, shorter than the leaves. Leaves alternate; blades 5-10 × 5.5-10 cm, ovate or broadly ovate, usually 3-lobed, chartaceous, the apex acute, obtuse, or acuminate, usually mucronate, the base cordiform or lyrate, the margins minutely dentate; upper surface scabrid; lower surface pubescent, with the reticulate venation prominent; petioles sulcate, pubescent, ca. 4 cm long. Flowers unisexual, in axillary cymes. Calyx green or pale orange, campanulate, 3.5-4 mm long, puberulous, the lobes oblong, reflexed; corolla white, yellowish green, or pale orange, campanulate, the tube ca. 1 mm long, the lobes 1-1.2 mm long, pilose, oblong, erect or reflexed; stamens 2, the filaments short, concrescent; ovary inferior, elongate, bicarpellate, the style simple, bifurcate near the apex, the stigmas bifid, subglobose and exserted. Berries asymmetrically ellipsoid, 1-1.2 cm long, smooth, pale green, turning orange when ripe; seeds few, ovoid, ca. 4 mm long, not arillate.

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

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1944; 4044; 4226; 11276; Axelrod, F. 8750; Britton, N.L. 226.
less ↑

Pentalinon luteum (L.) Hansen & Wunderlin, Taxon 35: 167. 1986.

Fig. 19. G-J

Basionym: Vinca lutea L.

Synonym: Urechites lutea (L.) Britton

Babeiro amarillo, Wild allamanda

Woody vine, twining, much branched from the base, up to 5 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems smooth, cylindrical, pubescent when young, lenticellate; bark thin, copper-colored. Leaves opposite; blades 3-7 × 1.5-3.7 cm, elliptical or obovate, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex rounded and mucronate, the base rounded to obtuse, the margins entire, revolute; upper surface shiny with the midvein yellowish; lower surface dull, with a prominent midvein, puberulous; petioles ca. 5 mm long, cylindrical, pubescent. Flowers in axillary cymes, few-flowered; pedicels cylindrical, pubescent, 1.5-2 cm long. Calyx light green, pubescent, of five lanceolate sepals, ca. 12 mm long; corolla yellow, infundibuliform, ca. 3 cm long, with cardinal red lines inside, the limb 3 cm in diameter, with 5 rounded lobes. Follicles woody, linear, divaricate; seeds numerous, with long, silky hairs.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 368; 685; 686; 1835; 2833; 4292; 11298; Johnston, J.R. 821; Sargent, F.H. 723; Shafer, J.A. 2737; Sintenis, P. 1891; Stevenson, J.A. 6583.
less ↑

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

Fig. 45. H

Basionym: Bignonia alliacea Lam.

Synonym: Adenocalymna obovatum Urb.

Woody vine, which climbs by tendrils and attains 10-15 m in length. Young stems quadrangular, with the angles ribbed; mature stems cylindrical or subcylindrical, lenticellate; cross section with a cross of 4 arms, formed by the phloem tissue; nodes slightly compressed with a glandular interpetiolar zone; pseudostipules ovate, ca. 5 mm long. Leaves opposite, 2-foliolate, sometimes with a terminal tendril, trifid, deciduous, 20-25 cm long; leaflets 9-30 × 4.5-18 cm, elliptical or broadly elliptical, chartaceous, the apex obtuse or obtusely acuminate, the base acute, rounded, or obtuse and sometimes unequal, the margins undulate or crenate; upper surface dull, glabrous, with the venation slightly prominent; lower surface light green, dull, minutely lepidote, with the venation slightly prominent, the axils of the secondary veins with a group of minute punctiform glands; petioles and petiolules glabrous, the petioles 7-30 mm long, the petiolules with two keels formed by the decurrent base of the blade, 7-30 mm long. Flowers few, in axillary racemes; pedicels 7-15 mm long. Calyx green, campanulate or broadly campanulate, simple, puberulous, 5-8 mm long, truncate, slightly crenate at the apex; corolla violet-pink or lavender, infundibuliform, 7.5-9 cm long, the limb 4-5 cm in diameter, with five rounded lobes; stamens inserted; ovary cylindrical, lepidote. Capsule oblong, woody, light brown, 30-35 × 2.5- 3 cm, swollen, with a longitudinal rib on the middle portion of each of the valves; seeds asymmetrically ovate, compressed, thick, woody, 1.5-2 cm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower from October to May and in fruit in October.

Status: Exotic, cultivated in Puerto Rico.
less ↑

Lophospermum erubescens D. Don in Sweet, Brit. Flow. Gard. Ser. 2 1: , t. 68, sub t. 75. 1831 [1830].

Fig. 153. A-G

Herbaceous vine, branched from the base, that climbs by means of twining petioles and attains several meters in length. Stems cylindrical, with a pubescence of glandular trichomes. Leaves alternate, simple, deltate, chartaceous, 3.5-7.3(15) × 2.5-6.7, the apex acute, the base cordiform, the margins dentate-mucronate; upper surface and lower surface densely glandular-pubescent, the venation slightly prominent or not prominent; petioles 3-6.5 cm long, twining, densely glandular-pubescent; stipules absent. Flowers solitary, axillary; peduncles as long as or longer than the petioles, densely glandular-pubescent. Calyx green, usually purple tingeD, glandularpubescent, the sepals lanceolate, free, 2.5-3 cm long. Corolla infundibuliform, intense pink, abaxially glandular-pubescent, 6-7.5 cm long, with 5 rounded lobes, 1-1.4 cm long; stamens 4, didynamous; ovary bilocular, glandularpubescent. Capsule membranaceous, ovoid, 1.5-1.9 cm long. Seeds discoid, ca. 2 mm wide, sculptured in the center, surrounded by a translucent wing.

Phenology: Flowering from January to July and fruiting from June to August.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized (according to Liogier, 1995), uncommon.
less ↑

Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb., Hort. Beng. 70. 1814.

Fig. 85. D-E

Basionym: Cucumis acutangula L.

Herbaceous vine, monoecious, creeping or climbing by axillary tendrils, attaining 5-10 m in length. Stems green, angular, scabrous; tendrils trifid. Leaves alternate; blades 15-20 cm long, 5-7-palmatilobed, chartaceous, the lobes more or less deep, the apex acute or acuminate, the base cordiform or hastate, the margins sinuate-dentate or denticulate; upper surface scabrous; lower surface pale green, scabrous; petioles 8-10 cm long. Flowers unisexual, actinomorphic. Calyx urceolate, with keeled lobes, 10-12 mm long, triangular; corolla pale yellow, the lobes deep, obtuse. Staminate flowers in racemes; stamens 3, the filaments free, 3-4 m long, villous. Pistillate flowers solitary, with a hypanthium < 1 cm long; staminodia 3, minute, glandular; ovary inferior, tricarpellate, claviform, 10-angled, with numerous horizontal ovules, the style short, the stigmas globose. Fruit claviform, with 10 longitudinal ribs, 15-30 cm long, the pericarp crustose, dehiscent by apical pores; seeds numerous, ovate, 11-12 mm long, blackish, rugose.

Phenology: Collected in fruit in July.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized(according to Britton, 1925), uncommon.
less ↑

Luffa aegyptiaca Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. 1768.

Fig. 85. A-C

Synonym: Luffa cilindrica M. Roem.

Herbaceous vine, monoecious, climbing by axillary tendrils, attaining 10 m in length. Stems green, slender, subcylindrical or angular, ribbed, glabrous or puberulous; tendrils trifid. Leaves alternate; blades 11-25 (35) × 7-25 (32) cm, 3-7-palmatilobed, chartaceous, the lobes lanceolate or ovate, the apices acute or acuminate, the base cordiform, the margins entire or serrate; upper surface scabrid; lower surface pale green, scabrid; petioles as long as or longer than the blade. Flowers unisexual, actinomorphic. Calyx green, campanulate, the lobes 12-15 mm long, lanceolate; corolla pale yellow, 2.5-4.5 cm long, the lobes ovate, obtuse. Staminate flowers in racemes 12-15 cm long; stamens 5, not exserted, the filaments free, 3-4 m long, villous. Pistillate flowers solitary, with a hypanthium ca. 3 cm long; ovary inferior, tricarpellate, ellipsoid, with numerous horizontal ovules, the style short, the stigmas globose. Fruit trigonal, slightly sulcate, 20-45 cm long, the pericarp crustose, dehiscent by apical pores, the mesocarp forming a network of fibers; seeds numerous, elliptical, 10-13 mm long, black, smooth.

Phenology: Flowering from November to January and fruiting in January and from July to August.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 4066; 7231; Goll, G.P. 829; Heller, A.A. 370; Sintenis, P. 716; 3174; Stevenson, J.A. 342.
less ↑

Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Cat. Pl. Cub. 203. 1866.

Fig. 66. C-E

Basionym: Convolvulus imperati Vahl

Synonyms: Ipomoea stolonifera J. F. Gmel.

Convolvulus littoralis L.

Ipomoea littoralis (L.) Boiss, non Blume

Erect herb or creeping or sometimes ascending vine, slightly woody, attaining 2 m in length, with milky latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, glabrous, producing adventitious roots in the area of the nodes. Leaves alternate, usually clustered on short axillary branches; blades simple, 2-10 × 1-2.5 cm, lanceolate, oblong, or deltoid, sometimes subsagittate, lyrate, or deeply trilobed, fleshy when fresh, chartaceous on drying, glabrous, the apex obtuse, rounded, or sometimes emarginate, mucronate, the base cuneiform, truncate, subcordiform to subsagittate; upper surface dull, glabrous, with the veins flat; lower surface glabrous, with the primary and secondary veins prominent; petioles 1-6.5 cm long, sulcate, pilose at the apex. Flowers solitary or in ascending dichasial cymes; peduncles 1.5-4.5 cm long. Calyx green, not accrescent, the sepals 10-15 mm long, elliptical, aristate at the apex, the margin hyaline, the two outer ones slightly longer than the inner ones, glabrous; corolla white, with a yellow center, infundibuliform, 2.5-5 cm long, the limb 3-6 cm in diameter, with 5 shallow, obtuse lobes; stamens and stigmas not exserted. Capsules globose or conical, 1.2-1.5 cm long; seeds 1-4 per fruit, ca. 5 mm long, lanate-pubescent.

Phenology: Collected in flower from October to March.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7039; 9294; Britton, N.L. 199; 1544; 1716; Goll, G.P. 959; Heller, A.A. 42; Sargent, F.H. 726; Shafer, J.A. 2399; Sintenis, P. 976; Stevenson, J.A. 356.
less ↑

Ipomoea ochracea (Lindl.) G. Don, Gen. Hist. 4: 270. 1838.

Fig. 68. A-C

Basionym: Convolvulus ochraceus Lindl.

Slightly woody vine, twining, attaining 5 m in length, with scarce watery latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, pubescent. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 3-10 × 2.5-7.5 cm, ovate, chartaceous, glabrous except for some hairs on the veins, the apex acuminate and usually mucronate, the base cordiform, the margins entire or sinuate; upper and lower surface with the veins slightly prominent, the lower surface usually glaucous; petioles 2-6 cm long, pubescent. Flowers solitary or in double dichasia, axillary; peduncles slightly longer than the petioles; bracts ovate, ca. 1.6 mm long. Calyx green, not accrescent, of 5 subequal sepals, 5-7 mm long, chartaceous, ovate or oblong-ovate, glabrous, punctate; corolla pale yellow, with the base of the tube purple inside, infundibuliform, 3-4 cm long, the limb with 5 shallow, rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas white, not exserted. Capsule ovoid, glabrous, with a thin pericarp, 1.3-1.6 cm long, stramineous, with the sepals persistent, not accrescent at the base; seeds 4 per fruit, 4-5 mm long, black, dull, glabrous.

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

Status: Exotic, naturalized.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2607; 3096; 4099; 5336; 6231; 7718; 10527.
less ↑

Jacquemontia pentanthos (Jacq.) G. Don, Gen. Hist. 4: 283. 1838.

Fig. 74. A-D

Basionym: Convolvulus pentanthos Jacq.

Slightly woody vine, twining, attaining 2 m in length, without latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, sparsely covered with white trifid hairs, glabrous when mature. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 1.8-6 × 1.2-3.7 cm, ovate or lanceolate, chartaceous, sparsely covered with white trifid hairs on both surfaces, the apex obtuse, acute, or mucronate and sometimes retuse, the base cordiform or truncate, the margins entire or sinuate; upper surface dark green; lower surface pale green, with prominent venation; petioles slender, pubescent or glabrous, 1-4 cm long. Flowers in congested dichasial cymes; peduncles longer than the leaves; bracts elliptical, ca. 5 mm long. Calyx green, the sepals broadly ovate or deltoid, 8-10 mm long, pubescent, acuminate at the apex; corolla blue or brilliant blue, with the center white, forming a star of 5 arms, rotate, the limb pentagonal in outline, 2.2-2.5 cm in diameter, the margins reflexed; stamens and stigmas white, exserted. Capsules globose, ca. 5 mm in diameter, brown, with the sepals persistent at the base; seeds obtusely triangular, ca. 4 mm long, brown, glabrous.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 687; 862; 1037; 2014; 2306; 4024; 4037; 4100; 4102; 4410; 5365; 6974; 7053; 10476; 11069; 11211; 11397; 11509. Britton, E.G. 692; Britton, N.L. 13; 1570; 1965; 2820; 4072; 4823; 5024; 8073; Goll, G.P. 594; 1018; Heller, A.A. 315; 4456; Johnston, J.R. 816; Sargent, F.H. 456; Shafer, J.A. 2612; 2725; Sintenis, P. 31; 3160; Stevenson, J.A. 2455.
less ↑

Jasminum grandiflorum L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 9. 1762.

Fig. 130. E-J

Slightly woody vine, twining, attainig 3-5 m in length. Stems octagonal to almost cylindrical, slender, glabrous, puberulent in the area of the nodes. Lateral branches numerous. Leaves opposite, imparipinnate, 5-7 cm long; leaflets 7 or 9, opposite, 1-3 × 0.7-1.2 cm, the apex acute or obtuse, mucronulate, the margins entire; terminal leaflet larger than the lateral ones, elliptical, with the base obtuse; the lateral leaflets ovate, the base asymmetrical, obtuse, subrounded on the basal ones, the distal ones decurrent on the rachis; upper surface glabrous; lower surface with the midvein prominent, glabrous to puberulent; rachis narrowly winged; petioles glabrous, 12-14 cm long; petiolules puberulent. Inflorescences of axillary dichasial cymes with 3 fragrant flowers; peduncles 2-5 cm long; pedicels 8-20 mm long, glabrous, with a pair of minute bracteoles on the middle. Calyx green, ca. 1.5 mm long, campanulate, with 5 linear lobes, 2-4 mm long; corolla white, hypocrateriform, 2.2-2.5 cm long, the tube white or pink outside, the lobes 5, elliptical, 1.5-2 cm long; stamens 2, included; stigma bilobate, slightly exposed. Fruits not seen.

Phenology: Collected in flower during December and January.

Status: Exotic, cultivated, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10532; Prey, N. 47.
less ↑

Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose in Britton, Fl. Berm. 256. 1918.

Fig. 54. D-E

Basionym: Cereus undatus Haw.

Much branched vine, creeping or climbing by aerial roots, attaining 7 m in length. Stems fleshy, 2-5 cm wide, trigonal, with 3 longitudinal ribs with undulate margins, with depressions in which are found groups of 1-5 subconical brown spines, 3-4 mm long. Flowers solitary, up to 30 cm long, axillary to the group of spines or terminal on the branch; perianth glabrous, infundibuliform; outer tepals greenish yellow, sometimes with a reddish tinge, those of the hypanthium ovate-lanceolate, the distal ones linear-lanceolate, the inner tepals petaliferous, white, longer than the outer ones; stamens yellow; inserted; stigmas greenish yellow. Berry red, ellipsoid, fleshy, 6-12 × 5-7 cm, with persistent tepals; seeds numerous, minute, black, covered with a red pulp.

Phenology: Flowering from July to September and fruiting from September to December.

Status: Exotic, uncommon, cultivated and naturalized.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 11494.
less ↑

Cryptostegia grandiflora R. Br., Bot. Reg. tab. 435. 1820.

Fig. 25. E-H

Woody vine, twining, attaining 6 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems cylindrical, glabrous or pilose in the area of the nodes, dark brown, with numerous minute lenticels. Leaves opposite; blades 5-10 × 2-6.3 cm, elliptical to rounded, membranaceous, glabrous, the apex acute or obtuse, the base obtuse to rounded, decurrent on the petiole, without glands at the union with the petiole, the margins entire; venation pinnate, with 11-13 pairs of secondary veins; upper surface dull; lower surface pale, with obscure venation; petioles glabrous, 17-10 mm long; stipules interpetiolar and intrapetiolar. Flowers 6-9, arranged in dichasial cymes, pedunculate; bracts foliaceous, ovate, 1-1.2 cm long. Calyx green, campanulate, the sepals ovate, pubescent, 1-1.5 cm long; corolla infundibuliform, 5-7 cm long, violet, whitish inside, the tube ca. 2 cm long; corona with bifid, lanceolate lobes, ca. 1.5 cm long. Follicles 2, divergent, brown when mature, 10-15.4 cm long, boat-shaped (keeled), woody; seeds reddish brown, ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 mm long, with long, white, silky hairs.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

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

Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & Jarvis, Taxon 33: 727. 1984.

Fig. 164. A-D

Basionym: Viscum verticillatum L.

Synonym: Cissus sicyoidesL.

Non-woody vine, that climbs by means of tendrils and attains more than 10 m in length. Stems fleshy, with abundant watery latex, cylindrical when young, flattened when mature, attaining 5 cm in diameter, the nodes swollen. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, ovate, 5-12 × 3.8-6.5 cm, the apex acute or rounded, the base cordiform, the margins revolute, denticulate; upper surface green, shiny; lower surface green, dull, with prominent venation; petioles 2-5 cm long, sulcate; stipules 2.5-3.5 mm long, auriculate; tendrils opposite the leaves, simple or bifurcate, up to 25 cm long, twisting in the form of a spiral. Inflorescences of compound cymes that are borne opposite the leaves; pedicels ca. 3 mm long, yellowish green or reddish. Calyx yellowish green or reddish, 0.7-1 mm long; petals 4, yellowish or pink, oblong-lanceolate, 2-2.5 mm long, deciduous; disc annular, yellow, 0.5-0.8 mm high. Fruits globose, fleshy, 0.7-1 cm in diameter, shiny, dark violet or black, with one or two seeds inside.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 169; 819; 833; 2088; 2420; 2820; 3993; 4683; 5114; 5172; 7088; 10591; 10929; 11681.
less ↑

Boerhavia scandens L., Sp. Pl. 3. 1753.

Fig. 128. A-F

Synonym: Commicarpus scandens (L.) Standl.

Clambering herb with pseudodichotomous branching, attainig 1-2 m in length. Branches cylindrical, brittle, glabrous. Leaves opposite, in pairs of the same size, 2-5 × 0.8-4 cm, deltoid, ovate, or broadly ovate, chartaceous, the apex obtuse or acute, the base cordiform or truncate, the margins undulate and ciliate; upper surface glabrous; lower surface puberulent; petioles canaliculate, 0.5-2.7 cm long. Inflorescences umbelliform, axillary; peduncles glabrous, 5-12 cm long; bracts and bracteoles minute, lanceolate, deciduous; pedicels unequal, 2-8 mm long. Calyx: basal part claviform, 1-1.5 mm long, glabrous, green; upper part or limb infundibuliform, white or yellowish green, green or with a pink tinge inside, 2-2.5 mm long; stamens 2, white; pistil white. Anthocarps long-pedicellate, green, claviform, dry, 12-13 mm long, with a ring of sticky stipitate glands on the distal portion.

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

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2520; 3105; 4764; 7892; 10801; 11291; 11499; 11532.
less ↑

Valeriana scandens L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 47. 1762.

Fig. 158 A-E

Herbaceous vine, twining, attainig 2-3 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous or puberulent at the nodes. Leaves opposite, trifoliolate; leaflets 1.3-6 × 0.8-2.2 cm (terminal leaflet larger than the lateral ones), membranaceous, glabrous, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, the apex acuminate, the base obtuse, rounded, or truncate, the margins entire or crenate, the venation slightly prominent on both surfaces; petioles slender, 1.2-3 cm long. Flowers in dichasial or pseudodichotomous cymes with lateral monochasia. Hypanthium ovoid, ca. 1 mm long, crowned by 10-12 filiform sepals; corolla narrowly campanulate, 1.3-1.8 mm long, the lobes 0.2-0.4 mm long; stamens included; style ca. 1 mm long, with three short stigmatic branches. Achene flattened, ribbed, ovate, ca. 2.5 mm long, crowned by a tuft of plumose sepals, ca. 4 mm long

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

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9399; 10203; Britton, N.L. 495; 5401; Sintenis, P. 302; 4932.
less ↑

Merremia cissoides (Lam.) H. Hallier, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 16: 552. 1893.

Fig. 75. F-G

Basionym: Convolvulus cissoides Lam.

Synonym: Ipomoea cissoides (Lam.) Griseb.

Herbaceous vine, twining, 3-5 m in length, with scarce watery latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, glandular-pubescent and frequently hispidulous, glabrescent. Leaves alternate; blades 5-palmately compound, 2-7.2 × 1.2-3.3 cm, chartaceous; leaflets elliptical, ovate, or ovatelanceolate, the apex obtuse, the base acute, the margins entire or slightly dentate; upper surface glabrous; lower surface glandular-pubescent or glabrous; petiolules ca. 1 mm long, glandularpubescent; petioles slender, hispidulous, glandular-pubescent, 2-3 (6) cm long. Flowers in simple or double dichasial cymes; peduncles longer than the petioles; bracts persistent, subulate. Calyx green, the sepals unequal, 1-1.5 cm long, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, glandularpubescent externally, acuminate at the apex; corolla white, with the center purple, infundibuliform, 2-3 cm long, the limb 5-lobed, (2.2)3-4 cm in diameter; stamens and stigmas white, not exserted. Capsules globose, 6-8 mm in diameter, light brown, glabrous, with the sepals persistent; seeds ellipsoid, ca. 6 mm long, grayish, lanate.

Phenology: Collected in flower in February.

Status: Native, rare.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9348; Liogier, A.H. 31319.
less ↑

Merremia aegyptia (L.) Urb., Symb. Antill. 4: 505. 1910.

Fig. 75. A-E

Basionym: Ipomoea aegyptia L.

Slightly woody vine, twining or creeping, attaining 3 m in length, with scarce milky latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, hispid, with simple yellowish hairs. Leaves alternate; blades 5-palmately compound, chartaceous; leaflets 4-14 × 2-6 cm, oblanceolate or elliptical, the apex and base acuminate, the margins entire, ciliate; upper and lower surface hispidulous; petioles slender, sulcate, hispid, 6-8 cm long. Flowers in dichasial cymes; peduncles shorter than the petioles; bracts deciduous. Calyx green, the sepals unequal, 1.5-2 cm long, lanceolate or elliptical, hispid outside on the basal portion, acute at the apex; corolla white, infundibuliform, 2.5-3 cm long, the limb slightly pentagonal, 4-4.5 cm in diameter; stamens and stigmas white, not exserted. Capsules subglobose, ca. 1 cm in diameter, light brown, glabrous, with the sepals persistent, accrescent, and expanded; seeds obtusely triangular, 5-6 mm long, pale brown, glabrous.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from November to May.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 527; 3080; 5360; 7216; Axelrod, F. 10485.
less ↑

Buddleja madagascariensis Lam., Encycl. 1: 513. 1785.

Fig. 53. A-E

Scandent shrub, sometimes twining, 2-5(10) m in length. Branches obtusely quadrangular, tomentose, glabrescent. Leaves opposite; blades 8-16 × 2.7-4.5(6.2) cm, lanceolate, ovate, or elliptical, coriaceous, the apex acuminate or less frequently acute, the base rounded, the margins entire or denticulate; upper surface sparsely tomentulose; lower surface lanate-tomentose, whitish or ferruginous, with prominent venation; petioles 5-15 mm long; stipules early deciduous. Flowers short-pedicellate to subsessile, in dichasia grouped in terminal thyrses, 5-25 cm long. Calyx campanulate or broadly campanulate, whitetomentose, 2.5-4 mm long, the sepals deltate, 0.5-1 mm long; corolla yellow-orange, tubular, 8.5-11 mm long, white-tomentose outside. Fruit unknown in the collections from Puerto Rico.

Phenology: Collected in flower in April and September.

Status: Exotic, cultivated, escaped or persistent, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 11454.
less ↑

Ficus pumila L., Sp. Pl. 1060. 1753.

Fig. 127. D-L

Plant with the juvenile phase morphologically different from the adult phase. Juvenile plant attaining several meters in length, much branched, climbing by means of adventitious roots; stems flattened; leaves 1.5-2.5 cm long, ovate to oblong, retuse at the apex, very closely spaced. Adult plant developing into a much branched liana, with adventitious roots, attainig 10 m in length and produces abundant white latex when wounded. Stems flattened, striate, tomentose, glabrescent when mature, with short pendulous branches. Leaves alternate, simple, 4-7 × 2.2-4 cm, oblong, oblanceolate, ovate, or elliptical, the apex obtuse, the base subcordiform, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, with the venation notably lighter; lower surface light green, dull, with prominent reticulate venation; petioles 1.3-1.6 cm long, flattened on the upper surface, pubescent, light brown; stipules oblong-lanceolate to subulate, persistent, 1-1.2 cm long, brown, sericeous. Syconium green, pyriform, up to 6 cm long, soft. Apparently not forming seeds in Puerto Rico.

Phenology: Collected in ‘flower’ during February.

Status: Exotic, ornamental, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9336; 9459.
less ↑

Stictocardia tiliifolia (Desr.) H. Hallier, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 18: 159. 1893.

Fig. 78. A-D

Basionym: Convolvulus tiliaefolius Desr.

Synonym: Rivea campanulata sensu House, non (L.) House

Woody vine, creeping or climbing, twining, attaining 5 m in length, with scarce milky latex. Stems slender, cylindrical, glabrous or pubescent, with numerous short lateral branches. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 5-17 × 5-12 cm, ovate to subrounded, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex acute, obtuse, or short-acuminate and mucronate, the base cordiform or sagittate, the margins undulate; upper surface dull with the venation flat; lower surface dull, punctate, with prominent venation; petioles 10-15 cm long, subcylindrical, slightly sulcate, glabrous. Flowers solitary or in simple cymes, axillary. Calyx green, the sepals glabrous, unequal, 1.7-2 cm long, overlapping, ovate or rounded; corolla pink or lavender, 6-8 cm long, the limb up to 6 cm in diameter, with rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas pink, not exserted. Fruit globose, 2.5-3 cm long, brown, tardily dehiscent by the dissolution of the pericarp, covered by the accrescent sepals; seeds obtusely triangular or rounded, ca. 1 cm long, brown, velvety.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from December to February.

Status: Exotic, naturalized in disturbed areas, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2898; 3120; 4008; Axelrod, F. 10071; Shafer, J.A. 2583; Sintenis, P. 86; Stevenson, J.A. 3501; 5886.
less ↑

Stegnosperma cubense A. Rich. in Sagra, Hist. Nat. Cub. 10: 309. 1845.

Fig. 138. D-H

Erect, clambering, or creeping shrub, with numerous lateral branches, attainig 1.5-5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, dark gray, with minute lenticels. Leaves alternate, coriaceous or chartaceous, elliptical, 1.2-6 × 0.9-2.7 cm, the apex obtuse or less frequently acute or rounded, the base obtuse, the margins crenulate; upper surface dark green, dull, with inconspicuous venation; lower surface light green, dull, with the midvein prominent; petioles 4-10 mm long; stipules absent. Flowers fragrant, in racemes at the end of short axillary branches, up to 7 cm long; peduncle glabrous; pedicels 2-3 mm long. Sepals 5, white, ca. 2.5 mm long, elliptical, more or less concave; petals 5, white, elliptical, 2.5-3 mm long; stamens 10, the filaments connate at the base; ovary superior, with 3-5 carpels, stigmas 3-5, sessile, elongate. Fruit a reddish capsule, ovoid, 4-5.5 mm long, opening by 3-4 woody valves. Seeds ellipsoid, black, shiny, ca. 4 mm long, covered by a white to pink aril.

Phenology: Collected in flower from June to September and from November to January and in fruit from January to March and from August to September.

Status: Probably exotic, cultivated, probably naturalized.

Selected Specimens Examined: Britton, N.L. 9628.
less ↑

Salmea scandens (L.) Dc., Cat. Hort. Monspel. 141. 1813.

Fig. 41. A-C

Basionym: Bidens scandens L.

Clambering shrub, 2-3 m in length. Stems striate, cylindrical, glabrous or puberulous. Leaves opposite; blades 4.5-9.5 × 1.7-4.2 cm, lanceolate, chartaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base obtuse, attenuate, or rounded, the margins revolute, entire, denticulate to dentate; upper surface dull, glabrous; lower surface dull, glabrous, with prominent venation; petioles 6-17 mm long, glabrous. Capitula numerous, of few flowers, in terminal, pedunculate, corymbiform cymes; peduncles 1-10 mm long, puberulous; phyllaries 2-4-seriate, green, the outer elliptical, ca. 2 mm long, the inner spathulate, ca. 5 mm long; corollas white, tubular, 2.5-3 mm long; anthers exserted. Achenes cuneiform, compressed, ca. 2 mm long, glabrous, strigose on the margins; pappus of 2 barbate bristles, 1.5-1.7 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit from November to April.

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7798; 10862; 10879; Britton, N.L. 321; 1610; 1970; Eggers, B. 1159; Heller, A.A. 405; 4690; Liogier, A.H. 10711; Sintenis, P. 2346; 6206; 6628; Stevenson, J.A. 495; Woodbury, s.n.
less ↑

Piptocarpha tetrantha Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 457. 1899.

Fig. 39. A-C

Liana or clambering shrub, 10 m or more in length. Stems pendulous, flexible, with numerous white scales when young, slightly compressed, striate and lenticellate when mature, attaining 2.5 cm in diameter. Leaves alternate, distichous; blades 6-12 × 2-5 cm, oblong, oblanceolate, or elliptical, coriaceous, the apex acute or obtuse, the base unequal, obtuse-acute, the margins smooth or denticulate; upper surface light green, slightly shiny, with reticulate venation, covered with small scales; lower surface completely covered with white scales, venation prominent; petioles 1-1.6 cm long, sulcate, whitish. Capitula in cymes, forming a compound axillary or terminal racemiform inflorescence; involucre tubular, 7-8 mm long; phyllaries in 6 series, green, pilose at the apex and ciliate at the margins, the series gradually increasing in size toward the interior. Corolla white, infundibuliform, 5-6 mm long. Achenes cuneiform, cream-colored, 4-4.5 mm long; pappus of numerous cream-colored bristles, ca. 5.8 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting probably throughout the year, but with more intensity from January to March.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2974; 7095; 9449; Boom, B. 6899; 7104; 10077; Breckon, G. 4428; Britton, N.L. 2030; 5285; Liogier, A.H. 10024; Shafer, J.A. 3437; Sintenis, P. 1637; 5339.
less ↑

Thunbergia fragrans Roxb., Pl. Coromandel. 1: 47. 1796.

Fig. 14. A-F

Synonym: Thunbergia volubilis Pers.

Herbaceous vine, twining, 2-3 m in length. Stems cylindrical, striate, slender, puberulous. Leaves opposite; blades 6.5-11 × 1.8-6 cm, ovate to lanceolate, chartaceous, the apex acute, the base truncate or subcordiform; margins undulate and ciliate; upper surface dark green, glabrous or somewhat scabrous; lower surface pale green, dull, puberulous, with prominent venation; petiole 2-3.5 cm long, slender, pubescent, sulcate, with the base somewhat dilated. Flowers axillary, solitary or in pairs; pedicels pubescent, 5-7 cm long, striate; bracts green, membranaceous, ovate, pubescent, 1.6-2 cm long, covering the calyx. Calyx green, of 15-20 sepals, lanceolate, 3-5 mm long; corolla white, infundibuliform, with 5 lobes, the tube 2.5-4 cm long, narrow at the base, yellow inside, the limb 4-5 cm in diameter. Capsules 1-2.5 cm long, depressed-globose at the base, the upper half in the form of a beak, dehiscent in two halves; seeds 4, globose, ca. 5 mm in diameter, pubescent, with a depression at the base.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status:Exotic, common, naturalized in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 171; 529; 1928; 4665; 5329; 7003; 9353; Boom, B. 9891; 9945; Goll, G.P. 774; Sintenis, P. 2673; Stevenson, J.A. 2154.
less ↑

Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Sims, Bot. Mag. 52, t. 2591. 1825.

Fig. 14. G-L

Herbaceous vine, creeping or climbing, twining, 2-3 m in length. Stems cylindrical, slender (ca. 2 mm), puberulous. Leaves opposite; blades 4.5-10.5 × 3.2-6 cm, ovate, lobed, chartaceous, the apex acute, the base subcordiform; upper surface dark green, dull, pubescent; lower surface pale green, dull, with prominent venation; petioles 4-8 cm long, winged, pubescent. Flowers axillary, solitary; pedicels pubescent, 4-5 cm long; bracts green, ovate, pubescent, 1.5 cm long, covering the calyx and the corolla tube. Calyx yellowish green, with 12 filiform lobes, ca. 4 mm long; corolla orange, pale yellow, or less frequently whitish, infundibuliform, with 5 lobes, the tube ca. 2.5 cm long, narrow at the base, dark violet inside, the lobes ca. 2.5 cm long with the apex truncate, the limb ca. 5 cm in diameter; stamens with glandular hairs on the basal portion. Capsules ca. 4 mm long, depressed-globose to 4-lobed at the base, the upper half in the form of a beak, dehiscent by two valves; seeds 2 or 4, 1.2-1.5 mm long, semicircular, reticulate.

Phenology: Flowering sporadically throughout the year.

Status: Exotic, very common, naturalized in Puerto Rico.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3050; 7002; 7135; Boom, B. 9895; Eggers, B. 760; Fisher, M.J. 21; 22; 23; Goll, G.P. 71; 152; Heller, A.A. 624; 6312; 6392; Liogier, A.H. 30010; Prey, N. 82; Sargent, F.H. 189; Sintenis, P. 158; Stevenson, J.A. 98; 306; 3328; Underwood, L.M. 757.
less ↑

Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson in Thwaites, Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 235. 1860.

Fig. 13. A-E

Basionym: Justicia gangetica L.

Decumbent herb, creeping or clambering, 1-3 m in length. Stems quadrangular. Leaves 2.5-11 × 2.5-6.5(8) cm, ovate to lanceolate, chartaceous, pubescent on both surfaces, especially on the veins, the apex acuminate, the base obtuse, truncate, rounded, or cordiform, the margins crenulate; petioles 0.5-3(4.5) cm long. Flowers arranged in terminal spikes on axillary branches; bracts and bracteoles ovate, ciliate. Calyx green, 5-7 mm long, the sepals lanceolate; corolla light yellow or pale violet, 2.3-5 cm long, with glandular hairs on the outer surface; stamens and pistil inserted on the floral tube. Capsules 2-2.5 cm long, claviform, light brown when ripe, densely covered with glandular hairs; seeds light brown, with irregular margins.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit throughout the year.

Status: Exotic, ornamental, naturalized in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, quite common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3083; 7001; 7082.
less ↑

Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl.) Miers, Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. 3: 188. 1863.

Fig. 47. A-E

Basionym: Bignonia venusta Ker Gawl.

Synonym: Pyrostegia ignea (Vell.) K. Presl

Liana that climbs by tendrils, 5-7 m in length. Stems angular to subcylindrical, striate, puberulent or lepidote, interpetiolar zone not glandular; cross section of the mature stem with peripheral phloem tissue not forming a cross. Leaves opposite, 2- or 3-foliolate, sometimes with a trifid, deciduous tendril; leaflets 4-6 × 2.5-4 cm, ovate, chartaceous, lepidote or puberulent, with numerous resinous dots on both surfaces, the apex acute, the base rounded, the margins undulate, revolute; upper surface dark, slightly shiny, with the venation slightly prominent; lower surface light green, dull, with a prominent midvein, without domatia; petioles and petiolules glabrous or puberulous, the petioles 1.5-2.5 cm long, angular, the petiolules 1-1.5 cm long, sulcate on the upper surface; pseudostipules inconspicuous. Flowers numerous in terminal panicles; pedicels 0.6-15 cm long. Calyx green, broadly campanulate, 4-4.5 mm long, subtruncate or 5-denticulate and ciliate at the apex; corolla redorange, tubular, 5.5-6.5 cm long, the tube glabrous externally, puberulent inside, the limb 2.9-4 cm in diameter, with 5 lobes, 1-1.5 cm long; stamens exserted, yellow; ovary oblong, ca. 4 mm long, glabrous or lepidote. Capsule linear, compressed, coriaceous, light brown, 25-30 cm long, with the midvein slightly prominent; seeds numerous, 1.2-1.4 cm long, the wings brown with the margins hyaline.

Phenology: Collected in flower in January and February.

Status: Exotic, cultivated, common.
less ↑

Amphilophium paniculatum (L.) Kunth in Humb. Bonpl. & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. (quarto ed.) 3: 149. 1819.

Fig. 3. C, 43. A-C

Basionym: Bignonia paniculata L.

Liana that climbs by tendrils and attains 5-10 m in length. Stems up to 10 cm in diameter, the bark fibrous, vertically striate; cross section of the mature stem cylindrical, with a cross of 4(-5) dark arms, formed by the phloem tissue; branches acutely hexagonal, with ribbed margins, lepidote or with dendroid pubescence; pseudostipules foliaceous, 3-10 mm long, early deciduous. Leaves 2-foliolate, with a terminal tendril, filiform, trifid, early deciduous; leaflets 2.5-16 × 2.1-10.7 cm, ovate to suborbicular, membranaceous, the apex acuminate or obtuse, the base truncate or asymmetrically cordiform, the margins entire; upper surface with minute, discoid, peltate scales, sometimes pubescent; lower surface with minute discoid, peltate scales, with the veins pubescent; petioles and petiolules hexagonal, with lepidote or dendroid pubescence; petiole 2.3-7.1 cm long; petiolules 0.6-4.3 cm long. Flowers fragrant, produced in terminal panicles, with deciduous bracts, the axes lepidote or with dendroid pubescence. Calyx double, the interior margin 2-or 3-labiate, short, the outer 5-labiate, undulate, 7-12 mm long, densely lepidote; corolla white with a purple tinge, tubular, bilabiate, 2.4-3.5 cm long, the tube split for 1/3 - 2/3 of its length, the 2 upper lobes united, ca. 1 mm long, the 3 lower lobes united, 1.3-1.8 cm long; stamens inserted; ovary ovate-cylindrical, 2-3 mm long, with an annular-pulvinate disc at the base. Capsules elliptical, compressed, 3.9-9.5 cm long, verrucoselenticellate, lepidote; seeds numerous, 1-1.9 cm wide, with a membranaceous wing on each side.

Phenology: Collected in flower from August to October.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10457; 10620; Sintenis, P. 2092; Stevenson, J.A. 2493.
less ↑

Arrabidaea chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) Verl., Rev. Hort. 40: 154. 1868.

Fig. 43. D-G

Basionym: Bignonia chica Humb. & Bonpl.

Synonym: Adenocalymna portoricensis A. Stahl

Liana that climbs by tendrils and attains 15 m in length. Stems quadrangular, striate, glabrous, 4-sulcate, up to 6 cm in diameter; cross section of the mature stem with a cross of 4 dark arms, formed by the phloem tissue. Pseudostipules inconspicuous. Leaves turning reddish on drying, 2-3-foliolate, the terminal leaflet replaced by a simple, deciduous, filiform, spiral-shaped tendril; lateral leaflets 3.4-11 × 1.5-5 cm, ovate, chartaceous, glabrous or with some scattered hairs, the apex acuminate or acute, the base truncate, rounded, or cordiform, the margins entire; lower surface with a prominent midvein; petioles 1.5-7 cm long, petiolules 0.3-4.5 cm long, both cylindrical and turning blackish on drying. Flowers fragrant, produced in terminal panicles. Calyx simple, 3-5 mm long, puberulent, crateriform, truncate or minutely denticulate; corolla violet, zygomorphic, infundibuliform, 1.5-3 cm long, with the lobes rounded; stamens and staminodia inserted, borne near the base of the corolla; ovary cylindrical, lepidote, with a small annular disc at the base. Capsules linear or narrowly elliptical, 12-23 cm long, smooth, glabrous, semi-woody, acute or obtuse at both ends; seeds numerous, 7-9 mm long, the wings lateral.

Phenology: Collected in fruit in March.

Status: Native, rare, probably extirpated in Puerto Rico, since it has not been collected there in more than a century.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2105; Sintenis, P. 1096; Stahl, A. 79.
less ↑

Cydista aequinoctialis (L.) Miers, Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 191. 1863.

Fig. 3. B; 44. A-D

Basionym: Bignonia aequinoctialis L.

Liana that climbs by tendrils and attains 15 m in length. Stems cylindrical, up to 6 cm in diameter, the bark grayish, vertically striate; cross section of the mature stem with a cross of 8 dark, marginal arms, formed by the phloem tissue; branches quadrangular, glabrous, pseudostipules absent. Leaves opposite, 2-foliolate, with a terminal tendril, simple, filiform, early deciduous; lateral leaflets 5.5-16 × 2.5-9 cm, ovate, oblong, or elliptical, chartaceous, the apex obtuse, acute, or acuminate, the base obtuse to subcordiform, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous; lower surface with punctiform scales, without domatia; petioles and petiolules quadrangular, pubescent or glabrous, the petiole 0.9-4.5 cm long, the petiolules 0.8-4 cm long. Flowers fragrant, produced in axillary or terminal panicles. Calyx yellowish, crateriform, simple, 4-10 mm long, pubescent or with punctiform scales, the apex truncate or denticulate; corolla zygomorphic, tubular-campanulate, 2.5-7.5 cm long, the tube slightly compressed, narrow at the base, white, yellow inside, the lobes rounded, lilac, the throat yellow with violet lines; stamens inserted; ovary cylindrical, 2-3 mm long, without a disc at the base. Capsules linear, 21-43 × 1.5-2.4 cm, prominent on the margins; seeds numerous, semicircular, membranaceous, 1.5-3.8 cm long, with two membranaceous wings.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Heller, A.A. 4447; Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2810; Axelrod, F. 9761; 9814; 10726; Britton, N.L. 8614; Heller, A.A. 1027; Sintenis, P. 945; 5764; Stevenson, J.A. 1752; Underwood, L.M. 261; Woodbury, R.O. 7696.
less ↑

Jasminum fluminense Vell., Fl. Flumin. 10. 1825 [1829].

Fig. 130. A-D

Synonym: Jasminum azoricum sensu Urb., Britton, non L.

Woody vine, twining, attainig 4-6 m in length. Stems cylindrical, pubescent, attaining 1 cm in diameter, glabrescent when mature. Lateral branches numerous. Leaves opposite, trifoliolate, 5-10 cm long; leaflets 2-5 × 2-3.5 cm (terminal leaflet larger than the lateral ones), broadly ovate, involute, the apex acute or acuminate, the base subtruncate, the margins entire; upper surface puberulent; lower surface with the midvein prominent, barbate in the axils of the secondary veins; petioles and petiolules pubescent, the petioles 0.5-2 cm long. Inflorescences of axillary cymes with numerous fragrant flowers; peduncles 3-4 cm long; pedicels 3-4 mm long, densely pubescent. Calyx green, ca. 3 mm long, campanulate, with 4-9 small acuminate lobes; corolla white, hypocrateriform, 1.5-2.5 cm long, with 4-9 lobes; stamens 2; ovary 4-lobate, the stigma bilobate. Fruit a purple or almost black berry, shiny, globose, 5-8 mm in diameter.

Phenology: Flowering from December to September and fruiting from January to August.

Status: Exotic, naturalized, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2892; 3839; 6978; 7084; 7872; 11245; 11479.
less ↑

Jasminum multiflorum (Burm.f.) Andrews, Bot. Repos. 8: part 102, t. 496. 1807.

Fig. 131. A-F

Basionym: Nyctanthes multiflora Burm. f.

Synonym: Jasminum pubescens (Retz.) Willd.

Clambering shrub, 2-5 m in length. Stems slender, tomentose. Leaves opposite, simple, 3-7 × 2-3.5 cm, ovate, the apex acute, the base subtruncate or cordiform, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous; lower surface tomentose, especially on the veins; petioles tomentose, 6-12 mm long. Inflorescences of axillary cymes, sessile, with numerous fragrant sessile flowers; bracts and bracteoles densely pubescent. Calyx green, ca. 1 cm long, infundibuliform, tomentose, with numerous linear lobes; corolla white, hypocrateriform, ca. 2 cm long, with 4-9 oblong lobes; stamens 2; ovary 4-lobate, the stigma bilobate. Fruits not observed on any of the collections from Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Phenology: Collected in flower from October to April.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1892; 3854; 4672; 10710; Britton, N.L. 1503; Croat, T.B. 60924; Goll, G.P. 189; 360; 759; Heller, A.A. 383; Sargent, F.H. 327; Shafer, J.A. 3012; Sintenis, P. 171; 5422.
less ↑

Jasminum sambac (L.) Soland. in Ait., Hort. Kew. ed. 1, 1: 8. 1789.

Fig. 131. G-I

Basionym: Nyctanthes sambac L.

Erect or clambering shrub, 1-2 m in length. Stems slender, puberulent, glabrous when mature. Leaves opposite, simple, 3.5-10.5 × 3-5.8 cm, elliptical, the apex obtuse, mucronate, the base obtuse to rounded, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous, except for the midvein, which is puberulent; lower surface glabrous, with the midvein prominent, barbate on the secondary veins; petioles pubescent, 5-7 mm long. Inflorescences of axillary cymes, longpedunculate, with few fragrant flowers; peduncle and pedicels pubescent. Calyx green, ca. 1 cm long, infundibuliform, tomentose, with 7-10 linear lobes; corolla white, hypocrateriform, the tube 1-1.4 cm long, the lobes 5, elliptical, 1-1.3 cm long. Fruits not observed.

Phenology: Collected in flower during September.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized(according to Liogier, 1995), uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Stevenson, J.A. 255.
less ↑

Holmskioldia sanguinea Retz., Obs. 6: 31. 1791.

Fig. 161. D-E

Scandent or erect shrub, with numerous basal branches, attainig 2 m in length. Stems obtusely quadrangular or cylindrical, puberulent, grayish; stipules absent. Leaves opposite, 3-12 × 1.5-8.5 cm, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, chartaceous, the apex acuminate or acute, the base cuneate or truncate, the margins serrate; upper surface puberulent, dark green, dull; lower surface puberulent, pale green, with numerous dots, the venation prominent; petioles 8-30 mm long, puberulent. Inflorescences of racemes or less frequently panicles, axillary or terminal, up to 5 cm long; bracts minute; pedicels 2.5-8 mm long, slender, glandular-pubescent. Calyx acetabuliform, orange, 1.6-2.2 cm in diameter, with minute dots; corolla hypocrateriform, crimson, 1.5-2.5 cm long; stamens slightly exserted, the filaments pink; ovary glabrous, the style as long as the filaments. Fruit globose, brown, verrucose.

Phenology: Collected in flower from November to April.

Status: Exotic, cultivated, rather common, apparently naturalized in areas of the Cordillera Central.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10533; 10842; Fisher, M.J. 19.
less ↑

Petrea volubilis L., Sp. Pl. 626. 1753.

Fig. 161. F-H

Twining liana or shrub, scandent or less frequently erect, with numerous basal branches, attainig 2-4 m in length. Stems obtusely quadrangular, pubescent or glabrous; stipules absent. Leaves opposite, sometimes whorled, 3-25 × 1.5-11 cm, elliptical, chartaceous, the apex obtuse, rounded-acute, or short-acuminate, the base obtuse or rounded, sometimes slightly asymmetrical, the margins entire, crenate, or sometimes serrate; upper surface glabrous or puberulent, scaberulous, with prominent venation; lower surface puberulent or glabrous, pale green, scaberulous, with numerous resinous dots, the venation prominent; petioles 4-16 mm long, puberulent. Inflorescences of axillary racemes, 10-60 cm long; bracts minute; pedicels 7-18 mm long, slender, puberulent. Calyx infundibuliform, blue-violet or white, the sepals 1.6-2 cm long, connate at the base to form a tube, 3-7 mm long, glabrous or pubescent; corolla infundibuliform, blue-violet or white, 0.6-1.5 cm long, the limb 5-lobate, one of the lobes larger; stamens included; ovary glabrous, the style short. Fruit unknown.

Phenology: Flowering sporadically throughout the year.

Status: Exotic, cultivated.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 4239; 11266.
less ↑

Clerodendrum thomsonae Balf., Edinburgh New Philos. J. 15(2): 233, t. 2. 1862.

Fig. 160. A-D

Slightly woody vine, twining, attainig 3-7 m in length. Stems obtusely quadrangular, puberulent; stipules absent. Leaves opposite, 5.2-14 × 2.7-7 cm, elliptical or lanceolate, chartaceous, the apex acuminate, the base obtuse or rounded, the margins entire or remotely sinuate; upper surface puberulent, dark green, dull; lower surface puberulent, pale green, with numerous dots, the veins prominent; petioles 1-2.8 cm long, sulcate, puberulent. Inflorescences of axillary dichasial cymes; bracts minute, subulate. Calyx more or less urceolate, 1.5-2.5 cm long, white, puberulent, the sepals lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, connate at the base, acuminate at the apex; corolla red or crimson, hypocrateriform, ca. 2 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 in December.

Status: Exotic, cultivated.
less ↑

Tournefortia bicolor Sw., Prodr. 40. 1788.

Fig. 50. A-E

Synonym: Tournefortia laevigata Lam.

Woody vine, twining, attaining 10 m in length. Stems cylindrical, strigose, glabrous when mature, attaining 4-5 cm in diameter. Leaves alternate; blades 4-15 × 2.5-8 cm, lanceolate or elliptical, chartaceous, the apex acute or short-acuminate, the base cuneate or obtuse, the margins entire or crenulate; upper surface glabrous or appressedpubescent or scabrid, puberulous on the venation, lower surface glabrous, with prominent puberulous venation; petioles sulcate, strigulose, 5-25 mm long. Flowers numerous, sessile, in scorpioid cymes, branched, the axes strigose. Calyx green, crateriform, strigose, the sepals subulate, 1.5-2 mm long; corolla white, hypocrateriform, 4-6 mm long, strigose outside, the lobes ovate, spreading, ca. 1 mm long; stamens inserted; ovary ovoid, with 4 chambers, the stigma sessile. Drupe globose, white, ca. 8 mm in diameter, separating into 4 pyrenes on drying.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from February to August.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 4121; Britton, E.G. 2866; Britton, N.L. 339; 6269; Sargent, F.H. B20; Sintenis, P. 1420; 6211.
less ↑

Ipomoea violacea L., Sp. Pl. 161. 1753.

Fig. 1. B; 72. I-K

Synonyms: Convolvulus tuba Schltdl.

Calonyction tuba (Schltdl.) Colla

Ipomoea tuba (Schltdl.) G. Don

Ipomoea macranthaRoem. & Schult.

Convolvulus grandiflorus L.f.

Operculina grandiflora (L.f.) House, pro parte

Slightly woody vine, twining, up to 15 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems cylindrical or subtriangular, grayish, with numerous lenticels usually arranged in lines; adult stems up to 3 cm in diameter, cross section with numerous alternating concentric rings of xylem and phloem. Leaves alternate; blades 9-15 × 7-11 cm, glabrous, broadly ovate, sometimes trilobed, fleshy-coriaceous, usually involute, the apex acute or acuminate, mucronate, the base cordiform or deeply cordiform, the margins undulate; upper surface light green, with the venation yellowish; lower surface pale green, shiny, with prominent venation; petioles cylindrical, glabrous, yellowish green, longer than the blade, with a pair of triangular glands at the base of the blade, swollen at the base. Flowers nocturnal, solitary or in simple dichasial cymes, axillary; peduncles cylindrical, up to 7 cm long, with two bracteoles in the upper middle portion. Calyx yellowish green, accrescent, the sepals unequal, 2-2.5 cm long, fleshy, concave, glabrous, the apex obtuse to rounded; corolla white, hypocrateriform, coriaceous, 5-7 cm long, the tube externally yellowish, internally with numerous transparent hairs and cardinal red fringes at the base, the limb 6-7 cm in diameter, with 5 obtuse lobes; stamens and stigmas not exserted. Capsules globose or depressed-globose, yellowish brown, 2.5-3 cm in diameter, with accrescent sepals, persistent at the base; seeds 4, obtusely angular, 1-1.2 cm long, brown, velvety, with a row of hairs along two angles.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2451; 4007; 4304; 6972; 9458; Britton, N.L. 5043; Fosberg, F.R. 52281; Liogier, A.H. 10799; Sargent, F.H. 3226; Sintenis, P. 1873.
less ↑

Ipomoea wrightii A. Gray, Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 2(1): 213. 1878.

Fig. 72. D-H

Synonym: Ipomoea pulchella sensu Griseb.

Herbaceous vine, annual, twining, climbing, or creeping, 3-4 m in length. Stems cylindrical, slender, glabrous, sometimes with minute spiniform projections. Leaves alternate, palmately compound; leaflets 5, lanceolate or oblonglanceolate, 1-4 cm long, glabrous, chartaceous, the apex acute, the base acuminate, the margins entire; upper surface sparsely punctate, with the midvein slightly prominent; lower surface pale green, with prominent venation, punctate or foveolate; petioles 2-6 cm long, slender, glabrous, with minute spiniform projections. Flowers usually solitary, axillary; peduncles 2-4 cm long, filiform, sinuate or spirally twisted; pedicels thick, claviform, 0.6-1.5 cm long, usually verrucose on the upper portion; bracts deltate, ca. 1 mm long. Calyx light green, not accrescent, the sepals equal, 5-7 mm long, ovate, glabrous, verrucose, the apex obtuse or rounded and mucronate; corolla pale violet or purple, infundibuliform, 1.5-2 cm long, the limb 1.5-1.7 cm in diameter, with 5 obtuse lobes; stamens and stigmas not exserted. Capsule conical, 1-1.5 cm long, glabrous, the pericarp thin; seeds 4 per fruit, elongate, obtusely triangular, tomentulose, ca. 1 cm long.

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

Status: Apparently exotic, rare.

Selected Specimens Examined: Sintenis, P. 3619.
less ↑

Solanum lanceifolium Jacq., Collectanea 2: 286. 1788 [1789].

Fig. 155. A-D

Woody vine, scandent, that supports itself on the host plants by means of recurved spines and attains 2-6 m in length. Stems cylindrical, stellatepubescent, with few or numerous recurved spines, yellowish. Leaves alternate, 10-18 × 3.7-7 cm, lanceolate, ovate, or elliptical, chartaceous, the apex acute, obtuse, or acuminate, the base obtuse or rounded, asymmetrical, the margins entire; upper surface dull, with some scattered stellate hairs, with the venation flat or slightly prominent; lower surface light green, dull, sparsely stellatepubescent, with prominent venation, the midvein with yellowish recurved spines; petioles stellatepubescent, 1-5 cm long, usually with recurved spines. Flowers in lateral racemes, 2-4 cm long, stellate-pubescent; pedicels stellate-pubescent, 1.5-1.7 cm long. Calyx green, campanulate, stellate-pubescent, 4.5-5 mm long, of 5 subulate sepals; corolla white, deeply lobate, stellatepubescent on the outer surface, the tube ca. 1.5 mm long, the lobes 8-11 mm long, oblong, oblonglanceolate, or ovate, expanded or slightly reflexed; anthers subulate, connivent, 6.2-6.5 mm long, yellow; style projecting beyond the anthers, the stigma capitate. Berry globose, fleshy, brilliant red or orange when ripe, 0.9-1.3 cm in diameter, glabrous. Seeds numerous, circular, flattened, yellowish, 3.2-3.5 mm in diameter.

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

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 906; 1857; 2417; 2848; 4112; 5108.
less ↑

Allamanda cathartica L., Mant. 214. 1771.

Fig. 18. A-D

Shrub or woody vine, clambering or sometimes twining, much branched, 2-8 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems grayish, cylindrical, glabrous or puberulous. Leaves in whorls of 3 or 4; blades 8-13 × 1.5-3.5 cm, oblong, elliptical or oblanceolate, coriaceous, the apex acuminate, the base acute, the margins undulate and revolute; upper surface glabrous, dark green, shiny, with a prominent midvein; lower surface yellowish green, with the midvein thickened, prominent, and puberulous; petioles 5-10 mm long; stipules transformed into 4 small intrapetiolar glands. Flowers in axillary cymes, few-flowered. Calyx greenish, of 5 lanceolate sepals, 12-18 mm long; corolla infundibuliform, yellow, the tube 7-9 cm long, the limb ca. 8 cm in diameter, with five rounded, revolute lobes. Capsules ellipsoid, with numerous spines on the outside, infrequent; seeds numerous, oval, compressed, 1.2-1.5 cm long, with a discolorous, wing-like margin.

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

Status: Exotic, naturalized in Puerto Rico.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9338; Britton, N.L. 1555; Fisher, M.J. 4; Goll, G.P. 389; 965; Sargent, F.H. 748; 3010; Shafer, J.A. 3013; Sintenis, P. 832; 2499; Stevenson, J.A. 1271.
less ↑

Jacquemontia tamnifolia (L.) Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. I. 5: 474. 1862.

Fig. 74. I-K

Basionym: Ipomoea tamnifolia L.

Synonym: Thyella tamnifolia (L.)Raf.

Slightly woody vine, twining, climbing, or creeping, attaining 5 m in length, with watery latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, hirsute or glabrescent, with malpighiaceous or simple hairs. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 3-10 × 1.5-3.7 cm, ovate, chartaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base truncate to cordiform, the margins entire or sinuate; upper surface green, punctate; lower surface pale green, with prominent venation; petioles slender, pubescent or glabrous, 1-4 cm long. Flowers in compact cymes, forming a head; peduncles longer than the petioles; bracts foliaceous, ovate, ca. 2.5 cm long, forming an involucre. Calyx green, the sepals lanceolate, 10-15 mm long, hirsute, acuminate at the apex; corolla white, turning lavender or pale blue, infundibuliform, as long as the sepals; stamens and stigmas white, not exserted. Capsules globose, 4-5 mm long, light brown, glabrous, with the sepals persistent at the base; seeds obtusely triangular, ca. 2 mm long, light brown, glabrous.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from November to February.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7024; Axelrod, F. 10844; Britton, N.L. 4011; Goll, G.P. 176; Heller, A.A. 4400; 6437; Howard, R.A. 17306; Sintenis, P. 692; Stevenson, J.A. 271; 529.
less ↑

Merremia dissecta (Jacq.) H. Hallier, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 16: 552. 1893.

Fig. 75. H-K

Basionym: Convolvulus dissectus Jacq.

Slightly woody vine, twining, much branched, 2-5 m in length, with scarce milky or watery latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, striate, hirsute when young, glabrous when mature. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 4-7 × 1.2-3 cm, 7-9-palmatilobed, divided almost to the base, chartaceous, glabrous, the lobes sinuate to sinuate-dentate, lanceolate or elliptical in outline, acuminate and mucronate toward the apex, the lower lobes sometimes again lobate; petioles slender, pilose or glabrous, 2.5-4 cm long. Flowers solitary or occasionally in cymes; peduncles as long as the petioles; bracts deciduous. Calyx green, the sepals unequal, 2-2.2 cm long, lanceolate to rounded, glabrous, hyaline; corolla white, with the center reddish, infundibuliform, 3-4 cm long, the tube light yellow, the limb pentagonal, 3.5-4 cm in diameter; stamens and stigmas yellow, not exserted. Capsules depressed-globose, 1-1.5 cm wide, opening by 4 hyaline valves, brown, glabrous, with accrescent sepals, ca. 3 cm long, persistent; seeds obtusely and asymmetrically pyramidal, 5-7 mm long, dull black, glabrous.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year and fruiting from August to December.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 691; 1987; 5413; 7006; 7012; 11373; 11461; Cowles, H.T. 205; Webster, G.L. 8984.
less ↑

Merremia tuberosa (L.) Rendle in Dyer, Fl. Trop. Afr. 4: 104. 1905.

Fig. 76. E-G

Basionym: Ipomoea tuberosa L.

Woody vine, climbing, twining, 10-15 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems thick, cylindrical, glabrous. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 7-12 × 6-11 cm, 7-palmatilobed, the lobes elliptical, long-acuminate at the apex, the base cordiform, the margins revolute, slightly sinuate; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, glabrous, with the venation sunken; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous or puberulous, with the venation yellowish, prominent; petioles as long as the blade, cylindrical, glabrous or puberulous. Flowers functionally unisexual, solitary or in simple dichasia. Calyx yellowish green, the sepals unequal, 2-3 cm long, fleshy, accrescent and woody once the fruit is formed; corolla yellow, infundibuliform, 4-5 cm long, the limb 4-5 cm in diameter; stamens exserted, the anthers white; stigma bilobed, green, exserted. Capsules ovoid, opening irregularly, 1.5-2.5 cm long, light brown, with the sepals persistent and accrescent at the base; seeds 4 per fruit, black, obtusely trigonal, 1-1.5 cm long, velvety.

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

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 5352; Liogier, A.H. 31166.
less ↑

Merremia umbellata (L.) H. Hallier, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 16: 552. 1893.

Fig. 76. H-L

Basionym: Convolvulus umbellatus L.

Synonym: Ipomoea polyanthes Willd. exRoem. & Schult.

Slightly woody vine, climbing or creeping, twining, attaining 5 m in length, with scarce milky latex. Stems slender, cylindrical, glabrous or pubescent, green or copper-colored, with a pair of spiniform projections at the nodes. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 4-17 × 5-12 cm, ovate or lanceolate, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex obtuse, acute, or short-acuminate and mucronate, the base cordiform or sagittate, the margins undulate; upper surface yellowish green, dull, glabrous, with the venation sunken, covered with minute white hairs; lower surface glabrous, with the veins puberulous; petioles cylindrical, usually longer than the blade, pubescent. Flowers in umbelliform cymes, axillary; peduncles shorter than the petioles, angular or cylindrical, puberulous, sometimes with winged projections; pedicels ca. 2 cm long, puberulous. Calyx green, the sepals unequal, 1-1.5 cm long, glabrous, overlapping, ovate or rounded; corolla brilliant yellow, infundibuliform, 2.5-3 cm long, the limb ca. 3 cm in diameter, with obtuse lobes; stamens white, not exserted; stigmas greenish, slightly exserted. Capsule globose, 4-valvate, ca. 1 cm long, brown, covered by the persistent sepals; seeds obtusely trigonal, 5-8 mm long, brown, velvety, with a line of longer hairs on two of the margins.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from November to April and sometimes later in the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2467; 2472; 4019; 4103; 5402; 6991; Britton, N.L. 10050; Goll, G.P. 499; Sargent, F.H. 90; Shafer, J.A. 2884; Sintenis, P. 829; Stevenson, J.A. 1148.
less ↑

Merremia quinquefolia (L.) H. Hallier, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 16: 552. 1893.

Fig. 76. A-D

Synonym: Ipomoea quinquefolia L.

Herbaceous vine, creeping or climbing, twining, 2-3 m in length, with scarce watery latex. Stems slender, cylindrical, sparsely hirsute or glabrous, sometimes with a reddish or mulberrycolored tonality. Leaves alternate, (3-)5-palmately compound, chartaceous; leaflets 2-7 × 0.5-1.2 cm, elliptical or lanceolate, glabrous, the apex acuminate, mucronate, the base acute and sessile, the margins serrate; upper surface green, dull, glabrous, with the venation sunken; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous, with prominent venation; petioles slender, 1-3 cm long, hispid or glabrous. Flowers solitary or in simple dichasia; peduncles as long as the petioles, glandularpubescent; pedicels slender, 8-15 mm long; bracts minute. Calyx green, the sepals unequal, ca. 1 cm long, glabrous, oblong, the apex obtuse; corolla pale yellow or white, infundibuliform, 2-2.2 cm long, the limb with obtuse lobes, slightly reflexed; stamens and stigmas pale yellow, not exserted. Capsules depressed-globose, opening by 4 valves, 0.7-1 cm long, light brown, glabrous; seeds obtusely trigonal, 3-4.5 mm long, black, covered with whitish lanate hairs.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year, especially from November to May.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 690; 2296; 3081; 3895; 5342; 7019; Garcia, J. Goll, G.P. 520; Liogier, A.H. 10808.
less ↑

Turbina corymbosa (L.) Raf., Fl. Tellur. 11: 81. 1838.

Fig. 2. D; 79. A-G

Basionym: Convolvulus corymbosus L.

Synonym: Rivea corymbosa (L.) H. Hallier

Woody vine, twining, much branched from the base, attaining 10 m or more in length, with scarce watery latex. Stems glabrous or pubescent, cylindrical when young, compressed, angular, or sulcate when mature, up to 3 cm in diameter, the bark grayish, with numerous dark lenticels; cross section of the stem polystelic, with peripheral vascular cylinders of different diameters. Leaves alternate; blades 3-10 × 2.7-5.5 cm, ovate, chartaceous, the apex acute, short-acuminate, or acuminate, the base cordiform, the margins entire, slightly undulate; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, glabrous, the venation flat; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous or puberulous, with a prominent midvein; petioles 1.5-6 cm long, slender, cylindrical, glabrous. Flowers numerous in axillary corymbs. Calyx green, the sepals oblong, 10-12 mm long, coriaceous, acute at the apex; corolla 2.5-3 cm long, white, infundibuliform, the tube yellow internally, except for the dark violet base, the limb with 5 yellowish bands forming a stellate design; stamens white, not exserted, the anthers sagittate; stigmas white, globose, not exserted. Fruits indehiscent, ellipsoid to subovoid, crustaceous, 1-1.5 cm long, the sepals persistent, unequal, accrescent, woody. Seed one, ellipsoid to subglobose, 4-5 mm long, minutely pubescent, light brown.

Phenology: Flowering from the end of October to January and in May, and fruiting in January and February.

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 5239; 7241; 9391; 10774; Britton, N.L. 6013; Sargent, F.H. 109; Sintenis, P. 5800.
less ↑

Jacquemontia havanensis (Jacq.) Urb., Symb. Antill. 3: 342. 1902.

Fig. 73. G-I

Basionym: Convolvulus havanensis Jacq.

Synonym: Jacquemontia jamaicensis (Jacq.) H. Hallier ex Soler.

Slightly woody vine, twining, attaining 2 m in length, without milky latex. Stem branched from the base, slender, cylindrical, densely covered with white, stellate hairs. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 1.5-5 × 0.5-1.5 cm, lanceolate, oblong, ovate, or linear, coriaceous, sparsely stellate-pubescent, the apex obtuse and mucronate, the base truncate or rounded, usually unequal, the margins revolute; upper surface with the venation sunken; lower surface with prominent venation; petioles slender, 6-12 mm long, slightly compressed, stellate-pubescent. Flowers in compound dichasial cymes, axillary, shorter than the leaves. Calyx green, crateriform, the sepals unequal, 4-5 mm long, puberulous, ovate to oblanceolate, the apex apiculate; corolla white, sometimes with a pink tinge at the margins, infundibuliform, 1-1.3 cm long, the limb with deep, obtuse lobes; stamens and stigmas white, slightly exserted. Capsules ovoid or ellipsoid, 5- 6 mm long, with the sepals persistent at the base; seeds triangular, 2-2.3 mm long, brown, glabrous, with a short marginal wing, membranaceous.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting almost throughout the year, particularly from November to March.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2348; 4077; 4177; 4392; 5294; 7007; 7142; 7220; 7763; 7770; 7896; 10797; 10965; 11011; 11026; 11077; Axelrod, F. 9448; Britton, N.L. 217; 4696; 4988; Heller, A.A. 6425; Johnston, J.R. 737; Liogier, A.H. 10638; 1565; Sargent, F.H. 167; Shafer, J.A. 2815; Sintenis, P. 3453; Stevenson, J.A. 1244.
less ↑

Ipomoea meyeri (Spreng.) G. Don, Gen. Syst. 4: 275. 1838.

Fig. 67. A-E

Basionym: Convolvulus meyeri Spreng.

Herbaceous vine, twining, 3-5 m in length. Stems slender, glabrous or pubescent, cylindrical, with scarce milky latex. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 4-9.5 × 3-7 cm, ovate, broadly ovate, deltate, lyrate, or trilobed, membranaceous, the apex and the lobes acute or acuminate, the base cordiform or sagittate, the margins entire; upper surface with the venation slightly prominent, strigose; lower surface with prominent venation, glabrous; petioles 2.5-6.5 cm long, slender, hirsute, especially at the apex. Flowers solitary, or 2 or 3 in axillary cymes, involucrate; peduncle 2-17 mm long, strigose to glabrescent; bracts of the involucre oblong, 1.5-2 cm long, sparsely hirsute. Calyx green, accrescent, the sepals unequal, 1.2-1.7 cm long, lanceolate, hirsute, especially near the base, long-acuminate at the apex; corolla pale blue, pale violet, or whitish, with the center white, infundibuliform, 1.5-3 cm long, the limb 2.5-3 cm in diameter, with 5 rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas not exserted. Capsules globose, ca. 8 mm in diameter, with the sepals persistent, erect, and accrescent; seeds 4 per capsule, reddish brown, elliptic-cuneiform, ca. 5 mm long, finely pubescent.

Phenology: Collected in flower from October to January and in fruit from December to January.

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Goll, G.P. 745; Heller, A.A. 6225; Sintenis, P. 5533.
less ↑

Ipomoea triloba L., Sp. Pl. 161. 1753.

Fig. 72. A-C

Herbaceous vine, twining or creeping, 2-3 m in length, with scarce milky latex. Stems green, cylindrical, smooth, slender, puberulous. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 3-6 (9) × 3-5 (6.5) cm, ovate to subcircular, usually 3-5-lobed, chartaceous, the apex mucronate, acute, or emarginate, the base cordiform or sagittate, the margins smooth, slightly revolute; upper surface with minute hairs on the veins; lower surface glabrous, with prominent venation; petioles glabrous, somewhat sulcate, 2-4 cm long, with two glandular depressions where they join the blade. Flowers in simple or compound dichasial cymes, axillary; peduncles longer than the petioles, quadrangular, pubescent, tuberculate. Calyx green, not accrescent, the sepals pilose, subequal, ca. 8 mm long, ovate to oblanceolate, the apex acuminate or acute; corolla violet-pink or lavender, usually reddish at the base in the center, infundibuliform or campanulate, 1.4-1.6 cm long, the limb ca. 1 cm in diameter; stamens sagittate, white, two of them shorter, not exserted; stigmas globose, white, not exserted. Capsule depressed-globose, brown, ca. 8 mm in diameter, pilose, with the style persistent; seeds 4 per fruit, 3-5 mm long, glabrous, dark brown to black.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Commentary: In the absence of the corolla, this species can be confused with I. tiliacea in individuals with relatively large and unlobed leaves. Nevertheless, I. triloba is distinguished by having pilose sepals, while those of I. tiliacea are glabrous.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2056; 2314; 3079; 3099; 4200; 5399; 7218; Axelrod, F. 10827; Britton, N.L. 1663; 4975; 6060; Goll, G.P. 797; 800; Heller, A.A. 494; 6222; Prey, N. 51; H. Shafer, J.A. 2851; 3042; Sintenis, P. 827; 3215; 3454; Stevenson, J.A. 2482.
less ↑

Ipomoea setifera Poir. in Lam., Encycl. 6: 17. 1804.

Fig. 70. A-B

Synonym: Ipomoea rubra (Vahl) Millsp.

Herbaceous vine, twining, climbing, or creeping, attaining 12 m or more in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, pilose, sometimes with a pink tinge, usually with numerous aerial roots where they enter in contact with the soil. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 4.5-16 (24) × 2.7-6.4, glabrous, chartaceous, oblong or ovate, the apex obtuse, retuse and mucronate, the base cordiform or hastate, the margins revolute, undulate, usually with a pink or purple tinge; upper surface dark green with the midvein slightly prominent; lower surface pale green, minutely punctate, with prominent venation, conspicuously reddish; petioles 10-21 cm long, slender, glabrous, sulcate, usually reddish. Flowers in compound dichasial cymes, axillary; peduncle thick, shorter than the petioles; bracts ovate, 1.5-2 cm long. Calyx light green, crateriform, the sepals ovate, unequal, 12-17 mm long, with 3 parallel veins and prominent like a keel, the apex acuminate, the outer sepals longer than the inner ones; corolla violet-pink with the center darker, infundibuliform, 4-7 cm long, the limb 4-5 cm in diameter, with 5 rounded lobes; stamens pink, not exserted; stigmas pink, exserted. Capsule ovoid, ca. 1 cm in diameter, the pericarp thin, covered by the persistent sepals at the base; seeds 4 per fruit, with two sides flat and one convex, ca. 6 mm long, dark brown to black, tomentulose.

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

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3094; 3764; 5433; Britton, N.L. 1392; 1506; 9428; Fisher, M.J. 7; Goll, G.P. 251; 843; Heller, A.A. 376; 6364; Sargent, F.H. 108; Sintenis, P. 963; Stevenson, J.A. 291; 698.
less ↑

Ipomoea tricolor Cav., Icon. 3: 5, t. 208.

Fig. 71. I-K

Herbaceous vine, twining or creeping, attaining 5 m in length, without milky latex. Stems glabrous, cylindrical, slender. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 5-12 × 4-14 cm, ovate, chartaceous, the apex acuminate and mucronate, the base deeply cordiform, the margins entire; upper and lower surface glabrous, minutely punctate, with the venation slightly prominent; petioles 2.5-10 cm long, glabrous. Flowers in simple or double dichasia, axillary; peduncle as long as or shorter than the petioles. Calyx green, not accrescent, sepals equal, 6-8 mm long, lanceolate, glabrous, obtuse at the apex, with the margin hyaline; corolla blue, turning violet when mature, infundibuliform, 6-7 cm long, the tube white outside and yellow inside, the limb with 5 rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas white, not exserted. Capsule conical, 1.3-1.6 cm long, light brown; seeds 4 per fruit, glabrous, black, dull, 9-10 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering from November to February.

Status: Exotic, naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3119.
less ↑

Aniseia martinicensis (Jacq.) Choisy, Mém. Soc. Hist. Nat. Genève 8: 66. 1837.

Fig. 63. A-D

Basionym: Convolvulus martinicensis Jacq.

Herbaceous vine, twining, climbing, or creeping, 2-4 m in length. Stems glabrous or puberulous when young, with watery latex. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 4-9 × 2.4-3.7 cm, narrowly lanceolate, elliptical, or oblanceolate, membranaceous, the apex obtuse and mucronate, the base obtuse, acute, or attenuate, the margins entire or crenate; upper surface dull, glabrous, granular, with the midvein slightly prominent; lower surface pale green, glabrous, dull, with the venation slightly prominent and puberulous; petioles puberulous, slender, 1-2 cm long. Flowers solitary, axillary; peduncles 3-5 cm long, with a pair of minute bracteoles on the distal portion; pedicel ca. 1 cm long. Calyx green, of 5 unequal sepals, ovate, acuminate, the two outer ones 12-17 mm long, broader than the 3 inner ones; corolla white, campanulate, 2.5-3 cm long; stamens not exserted. Capsules 4-valvate, ovoid, 1.3-1.5 cm long, partially covered by the accrescent sepals; seeds dark brown to almost black, ca. 6.5 cm long, with two sides flat and one convex, sparsely covered with minute, squamose hairs, especially on the angles.

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

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Axelrod, F. 9936; Liogier, A.H. 31343; 37389; 37405.
less ↑

Argyreia nervosa (Burm. f.) Bojer, Hort. Maurit. 224. 1837.

Fig. 63. E-F

Basionym: Convolvulus nervosus Burm. f.

Synonyms: Rivea nervosa (Burm. f.) H. Hallier

Argyreia speciosa (L.f.) Sweet

Twining liana, without latex, attaining more than 5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, densely canescent when young, becoming glabrous when mature. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 12-22(27) × 8.5-20 cm, cordiform, coriaceous, the apex obtuse to rounded, sometimes mucronate, the base cordiform, the margins entire; upper surface dark, dull, glabrous, with the venation slightly sunken; lower surface densely canescent, with the pinnate venation prominent; petioles 5-15 cm long, densely canescent. Flowers few, in axillary simple or double dichasial cymes; bracts foliaceous, ovate, acuminate, 2-5 cm long, canescent on the lower surface, forming an involucre at the base of the dichasia; peduncles densely canescent, up to 15 cm long. Calyx crateriform, canescent, accrescent, of 5 ovate sepals, obtuse, mucronate, 1.5-2 cm long; corolla lavender, dark violet in the throat, infundibuliform, 6-6.5 cm long, canescent outside, the limb with 5 slightly prominent, rounded lobes; stamens and style not exserted. Indehiscent fruits ovoid, 1-1.5 cm long, puberulous, the pericarp thick, subtended by the subwoody, persistent sepals, slightly shorter than the fruit; seeds light brown, ca. 5 mm long, densely appressed short-pubescent, with two sides flat and one convex, the hilum forming a navel.

Phenology: Flowering from April to August, collected in fruit in November.

Status: Exotic, cultivated in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Sargent, F.H. 754.
less ↑

Ipomoea hederifolia L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 925. 1759.

Fig. 65. F-H

Synonym: Quamoclit coccinea sensu Urb.

Twining vine, slightly woody, attaining 5 m in length, with watery latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, glabrous. Leaves alternate; blades 4-13 × 4.5-11 cm, ovate or deeply 3-5-lobed, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex of the lobes acuminate, the base cordiform or sagittate; upper surface dark green, dull, glabrous, punctate, with the veins slightly prominent; lower surface pale green, with the primary and secondary veins prominent; petioles 4.5-9 cm long, glabrous, slender. Flowers in dichasial cymes with one-sided racemose branches. Calyx pale green, not accrescent, the sepals 5-8 mm long, lanceolate, aristate at the apex; corolla hypocrateriform, bright red or red-orange, 4-4.5 cm long, the limb ca. 2.5 cm in diameter, with 5 obtuse lobes, shallow; stamens and stigmas white or pink, exserted. Capsules globose, ca. 8 mm in diameter, the pericarp thin; seeds 4 per fruit, light brown, ca. 5 mm long, pubescent.

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

Status: Apparently native, moderately common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2347; 3031; 3082; 3101; Eggers, B. 172; Fosberg, F.R. 59368; Ricksecker, A.E. 144; Stevenson, J.A. 5112; Rose, J.N. 3214.
less ↑

Ipomoea microdactyla Griseb., Cat. Pl. Cub. 204. 1866.

Fig. 67. F-J

Synonyms: Exogonium microdactylum (Griseb.) House

Ipomoea repanda var. microdactyla (Griseb.) Powell

Herbaceous vine, twining, 1.5-2 m in length, without latex. Stems slender, cylindrical, glabrous, with spinescent projections on the more mature portions. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 3-10 cm long, glabrous, ovate, lanceolate, or deeply 3-7- lobed, the apex and the lobes obtuse to acuminate, mucronate, the base cordiform, cuneate or truncate, the margins undulate; upper surface with the venation flat; lower surface punctate or foveolate, with prominent venation; petioles 1.5-4.5 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flowers 2-3, in axillary cymes; peduncles 0.8-4.5 cm long. Calyx pink, the sepals unequal, 4.5-7 mm long, rounded, glabrous, with the margins hyaline; corolla bright pink, hypocrateriform, 3-4.5 cm long, the limb with 5 ovate lobes, obtuse, expanded; stamens and stigmas exserted. Capsules conical, stramineous, 1-1.5 cm long, apiculate; seeds 4 per capsule, reddish brown, 5-6 mm long, with two sides flat and one convex, with a row of silky hairs longer than the seed at the margins and the apex.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, uncommon.
less ↑

Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth, Catal. Bot. 1: 36. 1797.

Fig. 67. K-O

Basionym: Convolvulus nil L.

Twining vine, attaining 5 m in length, with scarce watery latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, strigose. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 4.5-13.3 × 5.7-15 cm, chartaceous, strigose, deeply trilobed, the lobes ovate or lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, the base cordiform, sagittate, or deeply cordiform; upper and lower surface with the veins slightly prominent; petioles 2-8 cm long, strigose. Flowers solitary or in simple dichasia, axillary; peduncles as long as the petioles or slightly shorter; bracts subulate, 4-5 mm long, not forming an involucre. Calyx green, not accrescent, of 5 equal sepals, 2-3 cm long, lanceolate, chartaceous, long-acuminate, externally strigose, hirsute outside on the basal portion; corolla pale blue, lavender, or purple with the center white, infundibuliform, 4-4.5 cm long, the limb with shallow, rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas white, not exserted. Capsule subglobose, ca. 5 mm long, the pericarp thin, color yellowish brown, glabrous, with the chartaceous sepals persistent at the base; seeds 4 per fruit, ca. 4 mm long, dark brown, finely pubescent.

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

Status: Exotic, naturalized.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2315; 3100; 3161; 5372; 7243; Heller, A.A. 6310; Shafer, J.A.d 1973; Sintenis, P. 2912; 3216.
less ↑

Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br. in Tuckey, Narr. Exped. Zaire 477. 1818.

Fig. 68. G-H

Basionym: Convolvulus pes-caprae L.

Vine, creeping or sometimes ascending, up to 10 m in length, with scarce milky latex. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, woody in the older portions, the young portions herbaceous, producing adventitious roots in the area of the nodes. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 6.5-12 × 4-7.3 cm, oblong, reniform to subrounded, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex emarginate and mucronate, the base rounded, cordiform, or truncate, the margins entire; upper surface with the veins flat, scarcely visible; lower surface with the veins slightly prominent; petioles 3-8 cm long, glabrous, thick, slightly compressed on the upper surface, swollen at the base. Flowers solitary or in simple dichasia, axillary; peduncles shorter than the petioles; bracts subulate, ca. 5 mm long. Calyx yellowish green, not accrescent, the sepals unequal, 1.2-1.4 cm long, coriaceous, ovate, the apex rounded and mucronate; corolla pink or lavender, infundibuliform, 4.5-5 cm long, the limb up to 6 cm in diameter, with 5 rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas not exserted. Capsule ovoid to globose, 1.5-1.8 cm long, light brown, with a thin pericarp and with the sepals persistent and reflexed at the base; seeds 4 per fruit, ca. 8 mm long, dark brown, pubescent, with two sides flat and one convex.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2052; 4380; 11057; Fosberg, F.R. 52279; Goll, G.P. 3; 957; Sargent, F.H. 107; Shafer, J.A. 2400; Sintenis, P. 86; Stevenson, J.A. 1688; Underwood, L.M. 924.
less ↑

Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth, Bot. Abh. 27. 1787.

Fig. 68. D-F

Basionym: Convolvulus purpureus L.

Herbaceous vine, twining, 2-3 m in length. Stems cylindrical, slender, pilose or hirsute. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 2-10 × 2-10 cm, cordiform or deeply trilobed, the lobes ovate or lanceolate, chartaceous, strigulose on both surfaces, the apex acuminate, the base cordiform, the margins entire or slightly sinuate, ciliate; upper and lower surface with the veins slightly prominent; petioles 2.5-6 cm long, slender, strigulose, sulcate. Flowers solitary or in simple dichasia, axillary; peduncles longer than the petioles; bracts subulate, ca. 3 mm long, not forming an involucre. Calyx green, of 5 subequal sepals, 8-16 mm long, chartaceous, oblonglanceolate, the outer ones slightly broader than the inner ones, acute at the apex, hirsute outside on the basal portion; corolla blue, purple, pink, or with lines (forming a star) of these colors on a white background, infundibuliform, 4-4.5 cm long, the throat white, limb with shallow, rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas pink, not exserted. Capsule depressed-globose, 9-10 mm in diameter, glabrous, the pericarp thin, with the chartaceous sepals persistent at the base; seeds 4 per fruit, pyriform, 3-4 mm long, black, glabrous.

Phenology: Flowering from June to January.

Status: Exotic, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Heller, A.A. 1410.
less ↑

Ipomoea quamoclit L., Sp. Pl. 159. 1753.

Fig. 69. A-B

Herbaceous vine, twining, 2-7 m in length, with watery latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, glabrous. Leaves alternate or clustered on short axillary branches; blades deeply pinnatisect, ovate or elliptical in outline, with 9-19 pairs of linear segments, alternate or opposite, 1-9 cm long, chartaceous, puberulous or glabrous; petioles not evident. Flowers solitary or 2-6 in cymes; peduncles as long as or longer than the leaves; bracts ovate, ca. 1 mm long. Calyx green, not accrescent, of 5 unequal sepals, 4-7 mm long, chartaceous, ovate, the outer ones shorter than the inner ones, glabrous, obtuse at the apex, with a mucro that is borne below the apex; corolla red (sometimes white), hypocrateriform, 2-3 cm long, the limb with deep lobes, deltate, obtuse; stamens and stigmas pink, exserted. Capsule ovoid to conical, with a thin pericarp, lepidote outside, 8-10 mm long; seeds 4 per fruit, cuneiform, 7-8 mm long, dark brown to black, with tufts of irregularly scattered hairs.

Phenology: Flowering from August to February, collected in fruit in February.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Britton, N.L. 7888; Goll, G.P. 41; Underwood, L.M. 145.
less ↑

Ipomoea tenuissima Choisy ex Dc., Prodr. 9: 376. 1845.

Fig. 71. A-C

Herbaceous vine, twining, attaining 1 m in length. Stems cylindrical, slender, glabrous or puberulous. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 2-6 × 0.3-1(2) cm, membranaceous, glabrous, lanceolate, the apex obtuse, mucronate, the base hastate or auriculate, the margins entire; upper and lower surface with the veins slightly prominent; lower surface punctate; petioles 1-2.2 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flowers solitary or rarely in pairs, axillary; peduncles as long as or slightly longer than the petioles; bracts subulate, ca. 2.5 mm long. Calyx green, not accrescent, of 5 subequal sepals, 6-7 mm long, chartaceous, elliptical, obtuse and aristate at the apex, ciliate at the basal margins, the midvein slightly prominent; corolla violet-pink, infundibuliform, ca. 3 cm long, the limb with shallow, rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas not exserted. Capsule ovoid-conical, ca. 5 mm long, glabrous, with a thin pericarp and with the chartaceous sepals persistent at the base; seeds 4 per fruit, cuneiform, ca. 3.7 × 2.5 mm, dark brown, finely pubescent at the margins.

Phenology: Collected in flower in May.

Status: Probably exotic.
less ↑

Ipomoea alba L., Sp. Pl. 161. 1753.

Fig. 64. A-E

Synonyms: Calonyction aculeatum (L.) House

Calonyction bona-nox (L.) Bojer

Twining vine, slightly woody, climbing or creeping, 5-20 m in length, with scarce milky or watery latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, fragile, glabrous, green, with the nodes mulberry-colored and with spiniform projections. Leaves alternate; blades simple or sometimes 3-5-lobed, 7-18 × 8-16 cm, broadly ovate, chartaceous or subcoriaceous, glabrous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base cordiform, the margins undulate and slightly revolute, entire or 3-7-lobate; upper surface dark green, dull; lower surface pale green, with prominent venation; petioles 6-24 cm long, fragile, usually mulberrycolored, with the base somewhat broadened. Flowers fragrant, nocturnal, solitary or few in axillary racemes; peduncle cylindrical, 4-15 cm long. Calyx green, the sepals 2.5-3 cm long, lanceolate, long-aristate and revolute at the apex; corolla white, hypocrateriform, 10-12 cm long, the tube narrow, light green inside, the limb 5-lobed, 9-12 cm in diameter, with 5 light green lines outside forming a star; stamens and stigmas white, exserted. Capsules ovoid-conical, 2-3 cm long, with a persistent style; seeds 4, dark brown to black, glabrous, ca. 1 cm long, with two sides flat and one convex.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting sporadically throughout the year.

Status: Possibly native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7918; 10531; 10791; Cowell, J.F. 788; Goll, G.P. 154; Heller, A.A. 375; Sargent, F.H. 336; Sintenis, P. 446; Stevenson, J.A. 1160.
less ↑

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., Encycl. Méth. 6: 14. 1804.

Fig. 64. F-G

Basionym: Convolvulus batatas L.

Creeping vine, with the younger portions twining and ascending, 3-4 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Roots tuberous, edible. Stems cylindrical, slender, flexible, glabrous or pubescent, usually producing aerial roots in the area of the nodes. Leaves alternate; blades simple or 3-7-lobed, 6-13 × 6-10 cm, when simple broadly ovate, deltoid, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex acute, obtuse, or acuminate, mucronulate, the base cordiform, lyrate, or truncate, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, dull; lower surface pale green, with prominent venation; petioles 5-12 cm long, glabrous. Flowers few, in axillary dichasial cymes; peduncle cylindrical, 7-12 cm long. Calyx green, not accrescent, the sepals oblong, unequal, 8-12 mm long, aristate at the apex; corolla violet-pink, infundibuliformcampanulate, 3-4.5 cm long, the limb ca. 4 cm in diameter, with 5 rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas not exserted. Capsules depressed-globose, ca. 5 mm long, pilose; seeds black, dull, puberulous, ca. 3.5 mm long, with two sides flat and one convex.

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

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Goll, G.P. 590; 1062; Prey, N. 42; Stevenson, J.A. 2230; Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3243; Stevenson, J.A. 2468.
less ↑

Cuscuta americana L., Sp. Pl. 124. 1753.

Fig. 89. A-H

Herbaceous parasitic vine, attaining 5 m in length, with numerous lateral twining branches that adhere by means of haustoria. Stems yelloworange, cylindrical, smooth, glabrous, 1.5-2.5 mm in diameter. Leaves vestigial, 1-2 mm long, yellowish, in the form of scales. Flowers bisexual, sessile, in short axillary cymes. Calyx crateriform, whitish, membranaceous, 2.3-2.5 mm long, with 5 minute lobes; corolla whitish, crateriform to tubular, ca. 2.3 mm long, with 5 minute and rounded lobes; stamens 5, adnate to the upper portion of the corolla tube, the filaments with a scalloped scale at the base; ovary depressedglobose. Capsule thin-walled, 1.5-2 mm long, opening longitudinally in the area between the two styles. Seed one or rarely two per fruit, subglobose or lenticular, ca. 1.5 mm long, smooth, light brown.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 775; 1840; 2453; 2466; 2569; 2751; 3774; 4048; 4190; 7071; 11045; 11068.
less ↑

Oxypetalum cordifolium (Vent.) Schltr. in Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 269. 1899.

Fig. 32 A-F

Basionym: Gothofreda cordifolia Vent.

Herbaceous vine, twining, attaining 4 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems cylindrical, pubescent, ca. 3 mm in diameter. Leaves opposite; blades 4-10 × 4-6 cm, ovate, pubescent, the apex acuminate or cuspidate, the base deeply cordiform, the margins entire; upper surface dull green, with 5 acicular glands at the union with the petiole; lower surface pale green, dull, with slightly prominent venation; petioles pubescent, slender, 2-3 cm long. Flowers few, arranged in umbelliform cymes; peduncle ca. 2 cm long; pedicels 1-1.5 cm long. Calyx crateriform, green, the sepals linear-lanceolate, subulate, pubescent on the outer surface, 3.5-4 mm long; corolla campanulate, yellowish or light green, pubescent outside, the tube ca. 4 mm long, the lobes linear-attenuate, 1.5-2 cm long; corona of cuneate-spathulate segments, fleshy, ca. 2.5 mm long; pollinia with an acicular appendage in the area where they connect to the translator arms; stigmatic branches ca. 5 mm long. Follicles fusiform, ca. 8 cm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower in May.

Status: Native, extremely rare.
less ↑

Solanum seaforthianum Andr., Bot. Repos. 8, t. 504. 1807.

Fig. 155. E-I

Slightly woody vine, scandent, attainig 3-6 m in length. Stems more or less cylindrical, puberulent, glabrescent, unarmed. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate, 5-7(9)-pinnately compound, 5-7(9)-pinnatilobed, or less frequently simple, 4.5-9(14) × 2.6-10 cm, membranaceous; leaflets or segments elliptical or oblong-elliptical, the apex acute or acuminate, the base obtuse to almost cordiform, asymmetrical, the margins entire; upper surface dull, appressed-puberulent; lower surface light green, dull, appressed-puberulent, especially on the prominent venation; petioles appressed-puberulent, 2-6.5 cm long, slender. Flowers in terminal panicles but appearing lateral (sympodial by apposition), 6-23 cm long, puberulent; pedicels glabrous or puberulent, 8-12 mm long. Calyx green, 1-1.5 mm long, shortconical but attenuate toward the pedicel, glabrous or puberulent, almost truncate or with 5 very short lobes, obtuse; corolla lavender (rarely white), deeply lobate, the lobes 5-12 mm long, oblong or almost elliptical, expanded; anthers oblong, 3-4 mm long, not connivent, the filaments slightly unequal; style projecting beyond the anthers, the stigma capitate. Berry globose, fleshy, crimson, 9-16 mm in diameter. Seeds numerous, circular, flattened, ca. 3 mm in diameter.

Phenology: Flowering almost throughout the year, collected in fruit in January, February, and June.

Status: Exotic, cultivated as an ornamental and naturalized, although not very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 11476; Barker, E.E. 7859; Britton, N.L. 9867; Liogier, A.H. 29782; 34137; 36499; Santiago-Blay, J.A. s.n.; Stevenson, J.A. 1829; Woodbury, R.O. s.n.
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Securidaca virgata Sw., Prodr. 104. 1788.

Fig. 1E; 141. E-M

Synonym: Elsota virgata (Sw.) Kuntze

Woody vine, twining, with pendulous branches, attainig 5-10 m in length. Stems cylindrical, puberulent, slightly flattened when mature; cross section with bands of vascular tissue alternating with bands of parenchyma. Leaves alternate, 1-2 cm long, obovate or oblong, minutely strigulose, the apex rounded, retuse, the base cuneate or obtuse, the margins entire, revolute, the venation inconspicuous on both surfaces; petioles ca. 1 mm long, strigulose. Inflorescences of terminal racemes; pedicels ca. 6 mm long, minutely sericeous; calyx of 5 sepals, unequal, the 3 outer ones 2-4 mm long, pink, rounded, strigulose, the inner ones petaloid, 8-12 mm long, pink, rounded; keel white, ca. 8 mm long, the upper petals yellow, fleshy, slightly shorter than the keel. Samara 3-4 cm long, minutely sericeous, especially the seminiferous locule, the wing with reticulate venation, 2-3 × 1 cm.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3747; 6954; 7127; 9453; Britton, N.L. 983; 4478; 5809; Cowell, J.F. 582; Eggers, B. Goll, G.P. 410; 586; 1055; Heller, A.A. 4385; Holdridge, L. 215; Sargent, F.H. 250; Shafer, J.A. 2380; Sintenis, P. 46; 1065; 5291; 6658; Stevenson, J.A. 102; Underwood, L.M. 77; Webster, G.L. 8844.
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Securidaca diversifolia (L.) Blake, Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 23: 594. 1923.

Fig.141. A-D

Basionym: Polygala diversifolia L.

Synonyms: Elsota diversifolia (L.) Blake

Securidaca erecta Jacq.

Liana, with short twining lateral branches, attainig 5-10 m in length. Stems cylindrical, strigulose. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, 3.5-9(12) × 1.7-3.5 cm, narrowly ovate, ovate, or oblong, the apex obtuse or short-acuminate, the base obtuse, the margins entire, revolute; upper surface puberulent, with the midvein flat; lower surface with prominent venation, minutely strigulose; petioles 2-4 mm long. Inflorescences of racemes, terminal on short (4-12 cm long) lateral branches, these with rounded leaves, < 1 cm long, at the base; pedicels 4-5 mm long, strigulose; calyx of 5 sepals, unequal, the 3 outer ones ca. 3 mm long, violet, rounded, strigulose, the inner ones petaloid, 8-10 mm long, violet, rounded; keel violet, ca. 8 mm long, the upper petals spathulate, violet, slightly shorter than the keel; ovary glabrous, the style curved, glabrous, the stigma truncate. Samara 3.5-4.2 cm long, hirsute, the wing with reticulate venation, 3-3.5 × 10-13 cm.

Phenology: Collected in flower in March, April, and July.

Status: Native or naturalized on St. Croix; cultivated in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas.

Selected Specimens Examined: Ricksecker, A.E. 338.
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Rhabdadenia biflora (Jacq.) Müll. Arg. in Mart., Fl. Bras. 6(1): 175. 1860.

Fig. 20. G-K

Basionym: Echites biflora Jacq.

Synonym: Rhabdadenia paludosa (Vahl) Miers

Twining liana, glabrous, 7-10 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems green, cylindrical, smooth. Leaves opposite; blades 5-8 × 1.5-4.5 cm, elliptical, obovate, oblong, oblanceolate, and sometimes ovate, glabrous, the apex mucronate, obtuse, truncate, or sometimes retuse, the base obtuse or attenuate, the margins entire, slightly revolute; upper surface dull green; lower surface glaucous, with obscure venation; petioles 0.5-2 cm long; stipules not visible. Flowers in short axillary cymes. Calyx of oblong, mucronate sepals, 5-5.5 mm long, green; corolla infundibuliform, white, sometimes tinged with pink, with the center yellow inside, 4.5-5.7 cm long. Follicles linear, 6-10 cm long, parallel or slightly divaricate when mature; seeds numerous, linear, ca. 2.5 cm long, with a tuft of silky hairs at the apex.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year and fruiting mostly from March to September.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Eggers, B. 1155; Sargent, F.H. b23; Sintenis, P. 935; Stevenson, J.A. 433.
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Passiflora quadrangularis L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1248. 1759.

Fig. 135. A

Slightly woody or herbaceous vine, glabrous, attainig 3-5 m in length and climbs by means of axillary tendrils. Stems trigonal or quadrangular, the angles winged, becoming cylindrical when mature. Leaves alternate, glabrous, chartaceous or membranaceous, 10-20 × 8-15 cm, broadly elliptical or broadly ovate, not lobate, rounded toward the abruptly acuminate apex, the base rounded, subtruncate, or cordiform, the margins entire; lower surface with the pinnate venation prominent; petioles 2-5 cm long, thick, canaliculate, with three pairs of sessile glands; stipules ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 2-3.5 cm long; tendrils simple. Flowers solitary, pendulous, axillary, subtended by a persistent involucre of 3 ovate bracts, 3-5 cm long; peduncle 1.5-3 cm long, trigonal. Sepals ovate or oblong-ovate, 3-4 cm long, white, violet, or pink on the inner surface, green externally; petals oblong-ovate to oblonglanceolate, white with a pink tinge, 3-4.5 cm long; corona multiseriate, the segments filiform, as long as the sepals, with red-violet and white bands at the base, blue in the middle, and with numerous pink-blue spots above the middle; gynophore thick; stamens 5; ovary ovoid. Fruit a fleshy berry, oblong-ovoid, 20-30 × 12-15 mm, green, with three longitudinal furrows. Seeds numerous, cordiform or almost circular, 7-10 mm long, reticulate.

Phenology: Collected in flower from March to September.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10558; Sargent, F.H. 595; Shafer, J.A. 3483; Sintenis, P. 1022; Stevenson, J.A. 6715; Underwood, L.M. 778.
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Paullinia fuscescens Kunth in Humb. Bonpl. & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. (quarto ed.) 5: 120. 1821.

Fig. 150. A-D

Woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 3-7 m in length. Stems cylindrical, tomentose or tomentulose, up to 5 mm in diameter, with slight watery latex when cut; cross section simple (with a single vascular cylinder). Leaves alternate, biternate; leaflets chartaceous, the margins serrate, revolute; upper surface sparsely pubescent on the midvein, green, shiny; lower surface green, dull, the venation prominent and puberulent, with a tuft of hairs in the axils of the secondary veins, with glandular papillae; terminal leaflets 4-6 × 1.5-2.5 cm, lanceolate, the apex acuminate, the acumen obtuse, the base longattenuate; lateral leaflets 1-2 × 0.7-1 cm, almost elliptical, the apex obtuse, the base acute or obtuse; rachis narrowly winged, 1-1.6 cm long; petioles not winged, 7-12 mm long; stipules triangular, ca. 1 mm long; tendrils in pairs, spirally twisted, at the end of short axillary axes, from which an inflorescence usually develops. Inflorescences of axillary racemiform thyrses, with few sessile flowers, zygomorphic, in lateral cincinni; axes tomentose. Calyx whitish green, of 5 sepals, 2-2.5 mm long; petals white, cuneate at the base, ca. 2 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; stamens 8, the filaments unequal; ovary trilocular. Capsule three-winged, red, 1-1.5 cm long. Seeds one per locule, black, obovoid, slightly laterally compressed, ca. 6 mm long, with a white and emarginate aril on the lower half.

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

Status: Exotic, naturalized, locally common on St. Croix.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 5356; 10845; 11459.
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Vitis tiliifolia Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 5:320. 1819.

Fig. 164. G-J

Synonym: Vitis caribaea Dc.

Liana that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 10-35 m in length. Stems cylindrical, woody, producing abundant potable water when cut and attaining 8 cm in diameter; bark dark brown, rough. Leaves simple, broadly ovate or trilobate, 6.5-14 × 6.5-12.5 cm, chartaceous, the apex acute to short-acuminate, the base cordiform to almost truncate, the margins serrate; upper surface puberulent; lower surface tomentose; petioles 2.5-8 cm long; stipules caducous. Inflorescences of pendulous axillary panicles, 9-17 cm long. Calyx green, discoid, the sepals ca. 2 mm long. Petals 1.5-2.2 mm long, greenish yellow, oblong-obovate, persistent; disc ca. 0.2 mm high. Berries globose, 5-10 mm in diameter, juicy, violet when ripe. Seeds 1-2, circular, ca. 4 mm long.

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

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 198; 2128; Axelrod, F. 5996.
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Cissus erosa L.C. Rich., Act. Soc. Hist. Nat. 1: 106. 1792.

Fig. 162. A-J

Non-woody vine, that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 5-6 m in length. Stems angular, quadrangular, or 4-6-winged, branched, glabrous or puberulent, the nodes swollen. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets elliptical, lanceolate, or ovate, 4.3-10.5 × 3-5.5 cm (the terminal leaflet larger), glabrous or puberulent on the prominent veins, the apex acute or obtuse, the base acute, obtuse, or attenuate on the central leaflet and unequal on the lateral leaflets, the margins serrate; petiolules very short or absent; petioles canaliculate or slightly winged, 2-3(5) cm long; stipules deltoid, auriculate at the base, 2-4 mm long. Tendrils opposite the leaves, simple, filiform, 10-12 cm long, sometimes terminating in adventitious discs. Inflorescences of umbelliform cymes, opposite the leaves; peduncle longer than the accompanying leaf; pedicels 2-2.5 mm long, reddish. Calyx ca. 1 mm high, red or pink, truncate; petals red, glabrous, papillose; stamens green; disc reddish. Fruits globose, 5-7 mm in diameter, black when ripe. Seed one, 5-7 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 4720; 7171; 9471; 10809; 11503; Britton, N.L. 4083; 6732; 9909; Sargent, F.H. 612; Sintenis, P. 190; 4716; 5346; Stevenson, J.A. 6351; 6723; Underwood, L.M. 85; 513.
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Cissus trifoliata (L.) L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 897. 1759.

Fig. 164. E-F

Basionym: Sicyos trifoliata L.

Synonym: Cissus acida L.

Non-woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 2-15 m in length. Stems much branched, cylindrical, fleshy, 3-8 mm in diameter, glabrous or puberulent, reddish brown or grayish when mature, the nodes swollen. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate, fleshy, glabrous; leaflets ovate, obovate, or oblong, 2-3 × 1-2.6 cm, the apex rounded, acute, or truncate, the base cuneate or attenuate, the margins deeply dentate-mucronate on the upper half; upper surface and lower surface dull; petioles fleshy, sulcate, 1-3 cm long; stipules 3.5-5 mm long, lanceolate; tendrils opposite the leaves, simple, filiform, 6-8 cm long, twisted in the form of a spiral. Inflorescences in cymes, opposite the leaves. Calyx yellowish green, 1.5-2 mm long. Petals 4, yellowish or whitish, reflexed, 2-2.5 mm long, lanceolate-triangular, deciduous. Fruits depressed-globose, 7-8 mm in diameter, shiny, metallic blue or black when ripe.

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

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1017; 1799; 2693; 4375; 5127; 5363; 5446; 11251; 11497; Axelrod, F. 6346; Breckon, G. 4067; Sintenis, P. 4901; Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2015.
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Cardiospermum corindum L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2,526. 1762.

Fig. 149. M-N

Slightly woody vine, much branched from the base, that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 1.5-3 m in length. Stems with 5 longitudinal ribs, pubescent; cross section with a single vascular cylinder. Leaves alternate, biternate; leaflets 12-16 × 9-12 cm, chartaceous, the margins sinuatedentate; both surfaces more or less pubescent, especially on the prominent venation; terminal leaflet rhombic, acute or acuminate at the apex and attenuate at the base; lateral leaflets oblongovate, acute at the apex, rounded at the base; rachis and petioles not winged; petioles 2-3 cm long; stipules minute, early deciduous; tendrils in pairs, spirally twisted, at the end of short axillary axes (aborted inflorescences), from which an inflorescence usually develops. Flowers functionally unisexual, zygomorphic, in axillary racemiform thyrses; cincinni more than 4, usually in more than one whorl. Calyx light green, of 4 sepals, the two outer ones ca. 1 mm long, the inner ones ca. 2.5-4 mm long; petals white, obovate, 3.5-4.5 mm long; petaliferous appendages slightly shorter than the petals, fleshy and yellow at the apex, forming a hood that encloses the apex of the glands of the disc; disc unilateral, with 4 rounded or ovoid glands, ca. 0.4 mm high; stamens 8, the filaments unequal, pubescent; ovary trilocular, with one style and 3 stigmas. Capsule ellipsoid to globose-trigonal, 2-3 cm long, inflated, stramineous when ripe. Seed one per locule, spherical, black, ca. 4 mm in diameter, with a white, reniform hilum.

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

Status: Apparently native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1087; 1844; 2345; 2373; 4154; 4345; 11085; Britton, N.L. 1586; Liogier, A.H. 35326; Shafer, J.A. 3017.
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