Vines and Climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

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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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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Cardiospermum halicacabum L., Sp. Pl. 366. 1753.

Fig. 149. A-G

Herbaceous vine, much branched from the base, that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 1.5-2 m in length. Stems with 5 longitudinal ribs, glabrous or puberulent; cross section with a single vascular cylinder. Leaves alternate, biternate; leaflets chartaceous, puberulent or sparsely pubescent, the apex obtuse, acute, or acuminate, the base attenuate, the margins lobate or laciniate; terminal leaflet lanceolate or triangularlanceolate, rhombic or narrowly lanceolate in outline, 2-3.5(5) cm long; lateral leaflets ovate, lanceolate, or oblong in outline, 1-2.5 cm long; rachis and petiole not winged; petioles 2-3 cm long; stipules lanceolate, ca. 5 mm long; 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, shorter than the accompanying leaf; cincinni usually in whorls of 3. Calyx light green, of 4 unequal sepals, the outer ones ca. 1.2 mm long, the inner ones 3-3.5 mm long. Petals white, obovate, 2.5-3.5 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 long; stamens 8, the filaments unequal, pubescent; ovary trilocular, with one style and 3 stigmas. Capsule membranaceous, subglobose or turbinate-trigonal, inflated, stramineous when ripe. Seed one per locule, spherical, black, 3-5 mm in diameter, with a white cordiform hilum.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 523; 961; 966; 967; 968; 969; 1088; 2429; 2474; 2501; 5235; 9463; 11490; Britton, N.L. 1882; Goll, G.P. 1004; Liogier, A.H. 10637; Prey, N. 24; Sargent, F.H. 530; Sintenis, P. 1725; Stevenson, J.A. 5261.
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Cardiospermum grandiflorum Sw., Prod. 64. 1788.

Fig. 149. H-K

Slightly woody vine, with numerous lateral branches, that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 5-8 m in length. Stems almost cylindrical, striate, glabrous; cross section with a single vascular cylinder. Leaves alternate, biternate; leaflets chartaceous, glabrous except for some hairs on the veins, the margins deeply serrate; terminal leaflet rhombic, 4.5-8 × 2-4 cm, the apex acute or acuminate, the base cuneate or attenuate; lateral leaflets oblong-lanceolate, 2.7-7 × 1.3-3 cm, the apex acute or acuminate, the base obtuse or attenuate; rachis and petiole not winged, canaliculate; petioles 1-5 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. 1.7-3 mm long, the inner ones ca. 5-8 mm long; petals white, obovate, 6-9 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 2 elongate glands, corniform, whitish, 1.2-2 mm long; stamens 8, the filaments unequal, glabrous or pubescent; ovary ovoid or ellipsoid, villous, with one style and 3 stigmas. Capsule membranaceous, inflated, ellipsoid or ovoid, 3-5.5 cm long, stramineous when ripe. Seed one per locule, spherical, black, 4-5.5 mm in diameter, with a white, obtusetriangular hilum.

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

Status: Exotic, cultivated and locally naturalized in Puerto Rico, not very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10843.
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Paullinia pinnata L., Sp. Pl. 366. 1753.

Fig. 150. I-O

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

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

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 304; 1090; 3073; 6230; 6957; 6961; 7125; 9451; 11442; Boom, B. 7997; Britton, N.L. 1525; Eggers, B. 716; Goll, G.P. 369; Heller, A.A. 1223; Sargent, F.H. 431; Shafer, J.A. 2905; 3404; Sintenis, P. 188; 1532; Underwood, L.M. 354; 469; 993.
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Cardiospermum halicacabum var. microcarpum (Kunth) Blume, Rumphia 3: 183. 1847.

Basionym: Cardiospermum microcarpum Kunth

Distinguished from the typical variety by the presence of turbinate-trigonal fruits, truncate at the apex and of smaller size (see the key).

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

Status: Apparently native, rather common. less ↑