Vines and Climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

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

Fig. 45. D-G

Basionym: Bignonia hymenaea Dc.

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

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

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7215; 10180; 10183.
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Clerodendrum × speciosum Dombrain, Flor. Mag. 8, pl. 432. 1869.

Fig. 160. E-G

Synonyms: Clerodendrum thomsonae f. speciosum (Dombrain) Voss

Clerodendrum umbellatum var. speciosum (Dombrain) Moldenke

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

Phenology: Collected in flower from September to February.

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

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

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9413.
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Thunbergia grandiflora (Roxb. ex Rottler) Roxb., Hort. Geng. 45. 1814.

Fig. 15. A-F

Basionym: Flemingia grandiflora Roxb. ex Rottler

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

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

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

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