Vines and Climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Smilax domingensis Willd, Sp. Pl. 4: 783. 1806.

Fig. 184. G-K

Slightly woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 5-10 m in length. Stems slender, strong, glabrous, smooth, scarcely branched. Leaves alternate, simple, chartaceous, 5-12(15) × 2-6.5 cm, ovate, oblong, elliptical, or broadly elliptical, usually involute, 5-veined, the apex acuminate, the base obtuse, rounded, or less frequently subcordate; the margins entire; upper surface shiny, glabrous; lower surface dull, glabrous, papillose, with prominent venation; petioles 1-1.5 cm long, articulated at the apex, forming a sheath at the base, from which two simple tendrils are borne, 8-12 cm long. Inflorescence axillary, umbelliform, solitary. Flowers greenish, fragrant. Staminate flowers with pedicels 5-9 mm long; tepals elliptical, 3-3.5 mm long. Fruit globose, fleshy, ca. 1 cm in diameter, dark violet or almost black, with a single seed inside.

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

Status: Native, rather common.
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Smilax coriacea Spreng., Syst. Veg. 2: 103. 1825.

Fig. 184. A-F

Synonyms: Smilax ilicifolia sensu Boldingh non Desv.

Smilax havanensis var. portoricensis A. Dc.

Smilax guianensis var. subarmata O.E. Schulz

Smilax coriacea var. ilicifolia O.E. Schulz

Smilax subarmata O.E. Schulz

Slightly woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 5 m or more in length. Stems slender, strong, flexible, puberulent or glabrous, covered with small recurved spines. Leaves coriaceous or rigid-coriaceous, 5.5-12(18) × 2.6-9(12.5) cm, ovate, elliptical, oblong, lanceolate, or linear, 3-7-veined, the apex obtuse, acute, or less frequently rounded or slightly retuse, mucronate, the base rounded, obtuse, or cordiform, the margins revolute and usually spiny; upper surface dark green, shiny, glabrous, with the midvein prominent, the margins revolute and usually spiny; petioles 0.5-2 cm long, articulated at the apex, forming a sheath at the base, from which two simple tendrils are borne. Inflorescences axillary, umbelliform, these solitary or on short flexuous branches, lacking leaves. Flowers greenish or yellowish. Staminate flowers with pedicels ca. 5 mm long, tepals oblong, reflexed, 2-3 mm long. Pistillate flowers with pedicels ca. 3 mm long; tepals ovate, erect, 1.5-1.8 mm long. Fruits globose or depressed-globose, 5-7 mm in diameter, black when ripe.

Phenology: Flowering from January to March and from June to August and fruiting from September to January.

Status: Native, very common.

Commentary: In the first edition of this work, Smilax coriacea was considered a synonym of S. havanensis Jacq. This error is rectified in this edition, since the two species are different and can be distinguished by their pattern of the venation. The secondary veins on the leaves of S. coriacea form an angle with the principal vein that varies from 45º to 90º, while in S. havanensis the secondary veins form an angle with the principal vein that varies from 25º to 35º. Smilax havanensis is found in Cuba and in Hispaniola, but it is not found in Puerto Rico, nor in the Virgin Islands.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3818; 7211; 9339; 11395; 11418; 11848; Axelrod, F. 11103; 11160.
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