Vines and Climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Aristolochia oblongata Jacq. subsp. calceiformis (Urb.) R. Rankin & Acev.-Rodr., comb.nov.

Fig. 21. E-J

Basionym: Aristolochia calceiformis Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 300. 1899.

Synonyms: Aristolochia bilabiata sensu Pfeifer, non L.

Slightly woody vine, twining, 10-15 m in length. Stems subcylindrical, attaining 4 cm in diameter, the bark corky with numerous longitudinal furrows; cross section of the stem showing a xylem dissected by multicellular rays. Branches puberulous, sulcate. Leaves alternate; blades 5-13 × 2.4-3.6 cm, oblong, oblonglanceolate, or less frequently elliptical, chartaceous, venation reticulate, the apex obtuse or rounded, the base subcordiform or subtruncate, the margins entire, slightly revolute; upper surface glabrous, with some scattered resinous dots; lower surface with prominent venation, tomentulose; petioles 1-1.5 cm long, puberulous; pseudostipules reniform, 0.8-1 cm long. Flowers solitary or in axillary racemes; peduncle ca. 3 cm long; utricle ellipsoid, brown, ca. 1 cm long, geniculate at the base, the tube ca. 1.5 cm long, expanding toward the limb into an infundibuliform structure, subbilabiate, with two short lobes, of which the upper lobe is larger and folded, covering the throat after anthesis, the throat bright yellow, pubescent. Capsule ellipsoid or subglobose, 2-2.5 cm long; seeds membranaceous, triangular, ca. 5 mm long.

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

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 157; 2207; 11436; 11642; Britton, N.L. 6781; Johnston, J.R. 923; Sintenis, P. 3056.
less ↑

Rajania cordata L., Sp. Pl. 1032. 1753.

Fig. 177. A-L

Synonym: Rajania sintenisii Uline

Non-woody vine, climbing, twining, glabrous, attainig 3-10 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, strong, glabrous. Leaves alternate, glabrous, 4-11.5(20) × 2-6.5(12) cm, 5-9-veined, coriaceous or less frequently chartaceous, ovate, lanceolate, or less frequently hastate, the apex acute or acuminate, the base cordiform to almost truncate; upper surface slightly shiny, with the venation flat or slightly prominent; lower surface with prominent venation; petioles 2-7 cm long, cylindrical, pulvinate at the base. Inflorescences axillary, racemose, pendulous or ascendant. Staminate inflorescences solitary or fasciculate, 4-25 cm long, the flowers grouped in lateral cymes, the cymes stipitate, 1-3 per node; flowers with the perianth white or cream-colored, 0.9-1.1 mm long, the stamens 6. Pistillate inflorescences 4-30 cm long, with solitary flowers distributed along the peduncle; flowers with the perianth 1-1.3 mm long, the hypanthium ca. 1.5 mm long. Fruits samaroid, (1.1)1.6-3.2 cm long, flattened, usually reddish or burgundy, with a wing in a lateral distal position.

Phenology: Flowering from July to March and fruiting from September to June.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 127; 5171; 5226; 6962; 7035; 7104; 7147; 7664; 7922; 7925; 7927; 9403; 9437; 10220; 10570; 10820; 10877; 10878; 11208; 11381; 11406; Axelrod, F. 11069; Britton, N.L. 947; 1732; Goll, G.P. 238; 1033; Liogier, A.H. 9701; 9866; Sargent, F.H. 385; 3159; Shafer, J.A. 2631; 3253; 3606; 3655; Sintenis, P. 1384a; Stevenson, J.A. 158; 3113; Underwood, L.M. 739; Webster, G.L. 8738.
less ↑

Scleria canescens Böck., Cyp. Nov. 1: 37. 1888.

Fig. 173. A-B

Perennial herb, robust, climbing, forming large impenetrable colonies, and attaining 3.5 m in length. Culms ascendant, acutely triquetrous, 3-10 mm wide, retrorsely and antrorsely scabrous on the corners, strigose on the distal portion. Leaves numerous, alternate, sparse, broadly linear, 25-60 × 0.4-1.0 cm, pleated or almost flat, with three main parallel veins, subrigid, retrorsely scabrous on the veins and the margins, the apex acuminate or obtuse; leaf sheath as long as the internode, scabrous on the angles. Panicles solitary, distal or axillary, pyramidal, the distal ones 6-14 cm long, with a short leafy bract at the base; axes minutely pubescent or glabrous; bracteoles filiform. Staminate and pistillate spikelets 4-6 mm long; sterile scales 4-5, ovatecircular, brown or reddish brown, finely ciliate on the margins, the apex apiculate. Achenes ovoid-globose or ovoid, 2.6-3.3 mm long, white, shiny or with a purple tinge; hypogynium trilobate, 1-1.8 mm long, whitish, the lobes semicircular, with the margins reflexed and appressed to the achene.

Phenology:Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Apparently endemic to Puerto Rico. Locally very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 11449; González Más 1410. Scleria scindens: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2606; 2884; 5102; 7150. Scleria secans Britton, N. L. & Cowell 1402.
less ↑

Scleria scindens Nees ex Kunth, Enum. Pl. 2: 343. 1837.

Fig. 173. C-E

Perennial herb, forming large colonies, erect or climbing, attainig 3.5 m in length. Culms acutely triquetrous, 3-8 mm wide retrorsely and antrorsely scabrid on the corners, strigulose onthe distal portion. Leaves alternate, linear, 30-90 × 0.5-1.5 cm, almost flat or pleated, with five parallel main veins, subrigid, retrorsely scabrid on the veins and the margins; leaf sheath scabrid on the angles. Panicles solitary, terminal, pyramidal, dense, 3-8 cm wide, sometimes with one or two small panicles at the base; bracts usually 3 on the terminal panicles. Staminate and pistillate spikelets intermingled, of the same size; sterile scales 2-3, 3-4 mm long, light brown, ciliate on the margins, apiculate at the apex. Achenes globose, 2.3-2.6 mm long, apiculate, white, shiny, sometimes with a purple tinge; hypogynium trilobate, 1-1.7 mm long, the lobes semicircular, slightly revolute, divergent (not appressed to the achene).

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

Status: Native, locally common.
less ↑

Scleria secans (L.) Urb., Symb. Antill. 2(2):169. 1900.

Fig. 173. F-G

Basionym: Schoenus secans L.

Perennial herb, rhizomatous, climbing, attainig 5-10 m in length. Culms branched in the distal portion, acutely triquetrous, retrorsely spinulose on the corners, distally hirsute. Leaves alternate, linear, 10-40 × 0.2-0.7 cm, nearly flat or pleated, attenuate at the apex, the upper surface hirsute at the base, the lower surface sparsely hirsute to glabrous, retrorsely scabrous along the midvein and the margins; leaf sheath scaberulous on the angles. Inflorescences of few spikelets, composed of a terminal panicle and 1-3 axillary panicles that are borne from the ultimate leaf; terminal panicle 2.5-6 cm long; the lateral ones shorter. Staminate spikelets shorter than the pistillate ones; sterile scales 4, ovate or ovatelanceolate, 2.5-6 mm long, light or dark brown, reddish or blackish on the margins. Achenes ovoid or oblong-ovoid, rounded at the apex, appressedpubescent, 2.8-4 mm long, white, sometimes with greenish spots; hypogynium discoid, obscurely trilobate, 0.3-1 mm long, the lobes entire, reflexed.

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

Status: Native, uncommon.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

Berylsimpsonia vanillosma (C. Wright) B. L. Turner, Phytologia 74: 352. 1993.

Fig. 33. A-C

Basionym: Proustia vanillosma C. Wright

Synonyms: Proustia krugiana Urb.

Proustia stenophylla Urb. & Ekman

Clambering shrub, woody, 2-5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, broadened at the base of the leaf to form an obtuse or spiny, usually bifurcate, hardened or thickened area (callosity). Leaves alternate, distichous; blades 4-7.5 × 1.5-3.7 cm, elliptical, oblong or ovate, chartaceous or subcoriaceous, the apex acute, obtuse, or acuminate, the base acute to subcordiform, the margins denticulate or spinulose or less frequently entire; upper surface scabrous, (strigulose), the venation somewhat sunken; lower surface appressed-pubescent (sericeous), with prominent venation; petioles 1-3 mm long, puberulous. Capitula of few flowers, subsessile, clustered in cymes to form a paniculiform or racemiform inflorescence; involucre cylindrical, ca. 1 cm high, phyllaries in 3-4 series. Corollas bilabiate, yellow, 8-10 mm long, the inner lip 2-dentate, the outer one 3-dentate. Achene 3-6 mm long, linear, papillose; pappus of numerous barbate setae, yellowish, 6-8 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering from November to July and fruiting from February to September.

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Heller, A.A. 6263; Sargent, F.H. 375; Sintenis, P. 2920; Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7068.
less ↑

Lepidaploa borinquensis (Urb.) H. Rob., Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 103: 483. 1990.

Fig. 34. G-K

Basionym: Vernonia borinquensis Urb.

Synonyms: Vernonia borinquensis Urb. var. stahlii Urb.

Vernonia borinquensis Urb. var. hirsuta Gleason

Vernonia borinquensis Urb. var. resinosa Gleason

Slightly woody shrub, usually clambering, 1-4 (5) m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, densely pubescent and striate when young, glabrescent. Leaves alternate, distichous; blades 3-6 × 1.8-2.8 cm, coriaceous or rigid-coriaceous, ovate to lanceolate, the apex acute or acuminate, the base rounded or subcordiform, the margins ciliate, slightly undulate, and revolute; upper surface shiny, pubescent, scabrid, the venation usually sunken, covered with yellowish simple hairs; lower surface pale green, dull, with glandular dots, pubescent or sericeous, the venation prominent and pubescent; petioles 2-4 mm long, pubescent. Capitula of 13-22 flowers, sessile or short-pedunculate, solitary, axillary at the end of short and flexuous branches; involucre campanulate, 5-9 mm high; phyllaries subulate, the basal series smaller than the distal ones. Corollas white or pale violet, 5-6 mm long, with five lanceolate to linear petals; anthers exserted; style pubescent, bifid. Achene ca. 1.3 mm long, conical, pubescent; pappus of bristles 5-6 mm long and scales ca. 0.8 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering from November to July and fruiting from February to September.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3053; 7065; 7154; 7924; 9421; 10204; Heller, A.A. 4391.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

Vigna antillana (Urb.) Fawcett & Rendle, Fl. Jam. 4(2): 69. 1920.

Fig. 114. A-D

Basionym: Phaseolus antillanus Urb.

Herbaceous vine, twining, climbing, attainig 3-5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, reddish on the young portions. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets chartaceous, 3-9 × 2-7 cm, the apex acuminate, the margins entire, slightly revolute; upper surface glabrous or puberulent, with slightly prominent venation; lower surface glabrous or puberulent, with prominent venation; terminal leaflet broadly ovate or deltate, the base cuneate or truncate, with three main veins; lateral leaflets markedly asymmetrical, with one side oblong and the other broadly ovate, the base truncate; petiolules puberulent, 4-5 mm long; rachis 2-2.5 cm long, marginate, puberulent or glabrous; petioles marginate, puberulent or glabrous, 3-10 cm long; stipules lanceolate, 6-8 mm long, asymmetrical at the base, one side auriculate; stipels subulate, minute, persistent. Inflorescence of axillary pseudoracemes, up to 30 cm long, with 2 flowers per node; peduncle glabrous or puberulent; pedicels 2-3 mm long, glabrous; bracts minute, persistent. Calyx green, puberulent, campanulate, 4-5 mm long, the lobes more or less of the same length, 3 of them triangular, the 2 central ones rounded and fused; corolla pale violet to violet-pink; standard obovate, rounded at the apex, 1.5-1.8 cm long, pale violet; wings longer than the standard, oblong, unguiculate, pale violet; keel as long as the standard, twisted in the form of an ‘s’, pale violet. Legume linear, curved toward the apex, flattened, the area of the seeds slightly prominent, 6-14 cm long, 3-4 mm wide, puberulent, the apex terminating in a beak, dehiscent by valves that twist back on opening. Seeds 15-20, oblong, slightly flattened, 2-3 mm long, brown or blackish.

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

Status: Native, rather common.

Commentary: This species was treated erroneously as Phaseolus peduncularis in Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (Acevedo-Rdgz. et al., 1996).

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3134; 3796; 3868.
less ↑

Galactia eggersii Urb., Symb. Antill. 2: 311. 1900.

Fig. 105. F-H

Non-woody vine, twining, attainig 2 m in length. Stems slender, green, appressedpubescent, glabrous when mature. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets 1-3 × 0.7-2.1 cm, subcoriaceous, elliptical to rounded, involute, the apex emarginate, rounded, mucronate, the base rounded, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, puberulent; lower surface pale green, dull, pubescent, with the midvein prominent; petioles 0.5-2 cm long; stipules lanceolate, 2-3 mm long; stipels subulate. Inflorescences of axillary pseudoracemes, of one or a few flowers; rachis 1-2.5 cm long, pubescent; flowers 1-3, clustered on the swellings of the rachis; bracts minute, persistent. Calyx almost campanulate, green, pilose, 8-12 mm long, the sepals unequal; corolla brilliant red, the standard elliptical, 14-18 mm long, reflexed, the wings and the keel as long as the standard; style white. Legume 5-6 × 0.5-0.6 cm, oblong-linear, flattened, slightly curved, pubescent, with the margins slightly sinuate. Seeds ca. 5 mm long, reniform, dark brown, shiny.

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

Status: Endemic, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2483; 4138.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

Caesalpinia portoricensis (Britton & Wilson) Alain, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 90: 187. 1973.

Fig. 95. G-I

Basionym: Guilandina portoricensis Britton & Wilson

Scandent shrub attainig 6 m in length. Stems cylindrical, striate, puberulent, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate, paripinnate, ca. 15 cm long; pinnae 3-5 pairs, opposite; leaflets 3-5 pairs per pinna, opposite, 1-2 cm long, ovate or broadly elliptical, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex rounded or emarginate, the base unequal, rounded on one side, obtuse on the other, the margins entire; petioles and rachis puberulent, with some spines; stipules deciduous. Legumes broadly oblong, 5-6 × cm, semi-woody, unarmed, dehiscent along one suture. Seeds ovoid or rounded, 1.5-2 cm long, dark brown to almost black, shiny, not striate.

Phenology: Collected in fruit during March.

Status: Endemic, very rare.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

Caesalpinia ciliata (Bergius ex Wikstr.)Urb., Symb. Antill. 2: 275. 1900.

Fig. 94. D-F

Basionym: Guilandina ciliata Bergius ex Wikstr.

Synonym: Caesalpinia bonduc sensu Urb.

Guilandina melanosperma Eggers

Caesalpinia divergens Urb.

Scandent shrub, with many lateral branches along the main stem, attainig 6 m in length. Stems cylindrical, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, densely spiny. Leaves bipinnate, paripinnate, 20-35 × 10-28 cm; pinnae 3-10 pairs, opposite; leaflets 4-8 pairs per pinna, opposite, 1.5-3 × 1-1.7 cm, elliptical, ovate, or rounded, chartaceous, glabrous or puberulent, the apex rounded, mucronate, the base obtuse or cuneate, slightly unequal, the margins entire, revolute, ciliate; upper surface dull; lower surface with the midvein prominent; petiolules short, cylindrical, tomentose; petioles and rachis spiny; stipules lanceolate, acuminate, 0.5-1 mm long. Flowers functionally unisexual, in axillary or terminal racemes; rachis tomentose and densely spiny; bracts lanceolate, 3.5-6 mm long, deciduous. Calyx campanulate, 4-5 mm long, tomentose, the sepals reflexed, oblong. Petals yellow, 4.5-6.5 mm long, spathulate; stamens 10, four of which are fertile in the staminate flowers, all sterile in the pistillate flowers; ovary sessile, rudimentary in the staminate flower, the stigma terminal. Legumes oblong to almost rounded, 5-7.5 × 3-5.5 cm, semiinflated, sparsely spiny, tardily dehiscent along both sutures. Seeds 1-2, ovoid or rounded, 1.5-2 cm long, yellow to orange-brown or less frequently black.

Phenology: Flowering from March to August and fruiting in June.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 4134; 4227; 4290; 11522; Britton, N.L. et al. 116; 1678; Britton, N.L. 5047; Fosberg, F.R. 54063; Rose, J.N. et al. 3224; Shafer, J.A. 2819
less ↑

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.
less ↑

Chromolaena borinquensis (Britton) H. Rob., Phytologia 20: 199. 1970.

Fig. 34. A-D

Basionym: Osmia borinquensis Britton

Synonym: Eupatorium borinquense (Britton) B.L. Rob.

Clambering shrub, slightly woody, much branched, 1.5-2.5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, and smooth. Leaves opposite; blades 3-5 × 0.5-2 cm, chartaceous, deltate-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, 3-nerved from the base, the apex acuminate, the base cuneate or rounded, the margins with a marginal vein, revolute, remotely dentate-serrate; upper surface glabrous, with the venation sunken; lower surface glabrous, glandular-punctate; petioles 2-5 mm long, glabrous. Capitula numerous, arranged in corymbiform cymes; peduncles 1-2 cm long; involucre cylindrical, 0.5-1 cm high; phyllaries green, in 5 series, the outer much shorter than the inner, ovate, glabrous. Corollas pale violet, tubular, ca. 5 mm long, glabrous; anthers almost white, stigmatic branches pale violet. Achenes cuneiform, 3.5-4 mm long, triangular in cross section, glabrous, black, with the margins white; pappus of numerous white barbate setae, 3-3.5 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from November to April.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 206; 7779; 9367; Britton, N.L. 8486; Proctor, G.R. 43021; 44475; Sargent, F.H. 3292.
less ↑

Mikania stevensiana Britton, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 43: 458. 1916.

Fig. 38. D-F

Herbaceous vine, twining, 4-5 m in length. Stems slender, striate or angular, glabrous or puberulous. Leaves opposite; blades 3-5 × 1.9-4 cm, 3-lobed, triangular-ovate or less frequently 5-lobed, coriaceous, brittle, aromatic, trinerved, the apex acuminate or acute, the base subcordiform, the margins dentate, revolute, ciliate; upper surface dark green, shiny, with short bulbous hairs that give it a rough texture, the venation sunken; lower surface slightly shiny, puberulous, with prominent venation; petioles ca. 3 cm long, sulcate, puberulous; pseudostipules forming a ring of filiform segments, deciduous. Capitula 3, forming pedunculate cymes that form a terminal corymbiform cyme; subinvolucral bracts oblanceolate, puberulous, 3-3.5 mm long; phyllaries oblong, 6-7 mm long, green or with a reddish tinge. Corollas white, infundibuliform, ca. 6.5 mm long; anthers inserted; stigmatic branches long-exserted. Achenes cuneiform, ca. 5 mm long; pappus whitish, ca. 7 mm long, scabrous.

Phenology: Flowering in August and from December to February.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, known from very few localities.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7059; 7169.
less ↑

Mikania odoratissima Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 464. 1899.

Fig. 37. A-C

Slightly woody vine, twining, 3-5 m in length. Stems slender, striate, puberulous, aromatic. Leaves opposite; blades 4-10 × 3-8.5 cm, chartaceous, aromatic, ovate, triangular, or trilobed, glabrous or puberulous, 3-nerved, the apex acute or acuminate, the base truncate to cordiform, the margins dentate; upper surface dark green, shiny, with the venation flat or slightly sunken; lower surface light green, dull, venation prominent; petioles 1.5-3.5 cm long, sulcate, puberulous; pseudostipules forming a ring of lanceolate segments, pubescent, deciduous. Capitula in groups of 3, pedunculate to subsessile, arranged in terminal corymbiform cymes; subinvolucral bract obovate to oblong, 3-4 mm long; phyllaries 7-9 mm long, oblong-elliptical, green, puberulous; corollas white or pale green, infundibuliform, ca. 6.5 mm long. Achenes 4-4.5 mm long, prismatic, scabrid, cream-colored; pappus of numerous scabrous bristles, creamcolored or light brown, 6.5-7 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from November to March.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7056; 7201; 7790; 9370; 9371; 10671; 11450; 11754; Britton, N.L. 3899; 9786; Proctor, G.R. 44339; Sargent, F.H. 8115.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

Mikania fragilis Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 464. 1899.

Fig. 36. A-D

Synonyms: Mikania fragilis Urb. var. leptodon Urb.

Mikania rotunda sensu A. Stahl, non Griseb.

Herbaceous vine, twining, 6-8 m in length. Stems angular, with numerous lateral branches, pubescent when young, grayish with numerous lenticels when mature, the inner bark reddish, aromatic. Leaves opposite; blade 5-11 × 4-10 cm, broadly ovate, fragile, fleshy, slightly aromatic, not glandular, the apex acute, obtuse, or rounded, the base cordiform, the margins serrate, revolute; upper surface dark green, shiny, with the reticulate venation sunken, scabrid; lower surface pale green, dull, sometimes with some resinous dots, venation prominent; petioles thick, 2-4 cm long, pubescent, sulcate; pseudostipules broadly ovate, reflexed, 8-10 mm wide. Capitula few, pedunculate, in axillary corymbiform cymes; bracts of the involucre lanceolate to narrowly ovate, ca. 12 mm long, green to whitish; corollas white or with a reddish or greenish tinge, infundibuliform; anthers violet, connate, exserted. Achenes cuneiform, ca. 3.5 mm long, with 5 longitudinal ribs, glabrous; pappus of numerous bristles, 7-8 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering from September to April.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3057; 3759; 6965; 7102; Boom, B. 6928; 7109; 7941; Sintenis, P. 4127; Wagner 1749; Woodbury, R.O. s.n.
less ↑

Mikania congesta Dc., Prodr. 5: 197. 1836.

Fig. 35. A-D

Synonyms: Mikania micrantha var. congesta (Dc.) L. B. Rob.

Mikania scandens sensu A. Stahl, non Willd.

Herbaceous vine, twining, 2-5 m in length. Stems cylindrical or angular, striate, puberulous, or pilose. Leaves opposite; blades 2.5-14 × 1-10 cm, deltate-ovate or oblong-ovate, chartaceous, with 3-5 main veins, the apex acute or acuminate, the base cordiform, the margins entire or weakly dentate or undulate; upper surface dull green, glabrous or puberulous; lower surface puberulous, densely covered with resinous dots; petioles 1.5-14 cm long, puberulous; pseudostipules forming a ring of lanceolate segments, early deciduous. Capitula numerous, sessile or short-pedunculate (4-5 mm long), arranged in dense, globose or corymbiform glomerules, terminal or at the end of short lateral branches; subinvolucral bract acicular, 2.5-4 mm long, puberulous; phyllaries oblong, 3-4 mm long, pilose, light green. Corollas white, infundibuliform, 2.5-3.5 mm long, with resinous dots at the apex. Achenes 3-3.5 mm long, black, cuneiform, with resinous dots; pappus of 33-37 bristles, white, scabrous, ca. 3 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from November to March.

Status: Native, relatively common.

Commentary: Mikania congesta is very similar to M. micrantha; nevertheless, it can be distinguished from M. micrantha by the subinvolucral bracts usually of the same length or longer than the phyllaries (vs. shorter) and by the capitula arranged in subglobose glomerules (vs. capitula in corymbs).

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2256; 7786; 11386; Axelrod, F. 3118; 7294; Britton, N.L. 2371; Liogier, A.H. 10709; 32923; Shafer, J.A. 1972; Sintenis, P. 154; 2093; 3873; Stevenson, J.A. 1704.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

Piptocoma acevedoi Pruski, Novon 6: 98. 1996.

Fig. 40. A-H

Woody vine or clambering shrub, 3-7 m in length. Stems much branched, pendulous, tomentose. Leaves alternate; blades 2-9.5 × 1-4.3 cm, elliptical to obovate, chartaceous, the apex acute, obtuse, or rounded, the base acute or attenuate, the margins entire or undulate; upper surface glandular-punctate; lower surface whitish, densely stellate-tomentose; petioles 5-6 mm long, slightly winged, whitish. Capitula 4-9, with 6-10 flowers each, in glomerules arranged in terminal cymes; involucre cylindrical or campanulate, 5-6.5 mm high, the phyllaries imbricate, in 3-4 graduated series, green, pubescent; paleas present or not. Corollas pale violet, tubular, 5-6-lobed, 5-6.3 mm long, with glandular papillae on the tube and the apex of the lobes; anthers exserted, creamcolored; style with two recurved stigmatic branches, abaxially hispidulous. Achene turbinate, with 10 slight ribs, glabrous, 2.5-4 m long, light brown; pappus biseriate, the outer series of minute irregular-dentiform scales, the inner series of barbate bristles, 2.5-3.5 mm long.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from October to January.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, extremely rare.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 5217; 7148; Cedeño, J.A. 196; 379.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

Heteropterys purpurea (L.) Kunth in Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. (quarto ed.) 5: 164. 1821 [1822].

Fig. 121. G-K

Basionym: Banisteria purpurea L.

Woody vine, twining, attainig 3-8 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, copper-colored, puberulent, lenticellate, with numerous lateral branches. Leaves opposite, chartaceous, 1.5-2 × 1-1.5 cm, oblong, elliptical, or ovate, the apex obtuse or rounded, sometimes mucronate, the base obtuse or rounded, the margins revolute; upper surface shiny, glabrous or puberulent; lower surface yellowish green, dull, puberulent; petioles 3-10 mm long, puberulent, with a pair of glands in the middle; stipules absent. Inflorescence of axillary racemes; bracts minute, without glands; pedicels 5-6 mm long, slender, ferruginouspubescent; articulated near the base. Calyx of 5 sepals, elliptical or ovate, ca. 3 mm long, appressed-pubescent, 4 of which have a pair of glands at the base of the outer surface. Petals 5, pink, broadly ovate, unguiculate, 4.5-5 mm long, the apex rounded. Mericarps 1.5-3 cm long, with an ascendent dorsal wing.

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

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 664; 872; 1033; 2658; 5391; 7009; 7897; 10194; 11472; Britton, N.L. 54; 1272; 1479; 1509; Goll, G.P. 542; Heller, A.A. 478; Sargent, F.H. 5; Shafer, J.A. 2551; Stevenson, J.A. 988; 1385; Underwood, L.M. 477.
less ↑

Heteropterys wydleriana A. Juss., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Sér. 2. 13: 275. 1840.

Fig. 121. L-S

Synonyms: Banisteria wydleriana (A. Juss.) C.B. Robinson

Heteropterys bellonis Urb.

Woody vine, twining, attainig 10-15 m in length. Stems cylindrical, ferruginous-pubescent when young, attaining 5 cm in diameter, the bark grayish. Leaves opposite, coriaceous, 6.5-15 × 3.6-7 cm, oblong or elliptical, the apex acute or obtuse and sometimes mucronate, the base obtuse or rounded; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, puberulent, the midvein ferruginous-pubescent; lower surface densely ferruginous-sericeoustomentose, the venation prominent; petioles ca. 1 cm long, with a pair of glands at the middle, ferruginous-pubescent. Inflorescences of axillary dichasial cymes; bracts minute, triangular; pedicels 9-11 mm long, ferruginous-strigose, articulated in the middle. Calyx ferruginousstrigose, the sepals 5, triangular, 3-4 mm long, four of them with a pair of glands at the base of the outer surface. Petals 5, yellow, oblong, unguiculate, ca. 4 mm long. Mericarps (1-)3, ferruginous-tomentose, 4-5 cm long, with a distal dorsal wing, ascendent.

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

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2211; 4723; 4793; 7193; 7708; 7794; Breckon, G. 4219; Britton, N.L. 4201; Sintenis, P. 192.
less ↑

Tetrapterys inaequalis Cav., Diss. 433. 1790.

Fig. 123. H-N

Synonyms: Tetrapterys paniculata Bello

Tetrapterys citrifolia sensu Alain, non (Sw.) Pers.

Woody vine, twining, attainig 5-10 m in length. Stems cream-colored, cylindrical, sericeous-tomentose when young, glabrous when mature. Leaves opposite, chartaceous, elliptical oblong or ovate, 4-15 × 3-6(8.9) cm, the apex obtuse, acute, or acuminate, the base obtuse, rounded, or subcordiform, sometimes unequal, the margins undulate or entire; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, glabrescent; lower surface dull, glabrous or puberulent, with prominent venation and usually sericeous-tomentose; petioles 0.6-1.5 cm long, sericeous-tomentose or glabrous, slightly sulcate; stipules oblong to lanceolate, 5-6 mm long, sericeous-tomentose, early deciduous, leaving an annular scar. Inflorescences formed by short branches with numerous umbels of 4 flowers; peduncles sericeous-tomentose; pedicels sericeous-tomentose, 6-9 mm long, articulated in the middle; bracts minute. Calyx of 5 green sepals, ovate, 2-3 mm long, 4 of which have a pair of glands outside at the base. Petals yellow, 5-7 mm long, the base unguiculate, orange, the limb ovate. Mericarps 2.5-3 cm long, with two pairs of wings, the distal ones ca. 20 × 5 mm, the basal ones ca. 10 × 2.5 mm.

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

Status: Native, uncommon.

Note: Sterile specimens of this species have been identified by Woodbury and treated by Liogier (1982, 1997) as Sabicea cinerea Aubl. and in the Spanish edition of this book as Sabicea sp. a. This error was apparently started by Werham (1914) who cited S. cinerea as occurring in Puerto Rico in his Monograph of the genus Sabicea. This mistake is corrected in the present edition.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10182; 11676.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

Marcgravia rectiflora Triana & Planchon, Ann. Sci. Nat. Sér. 4, 17: 364. 1862.

Fig. 2F; 124. A-G

Synonyms: Marcgravia umbellata Griseb.

Marcgravia brittoniana Alain

Liana with two different morphological phases. Juvenile plants and branches climbing, ca. 1 m in length, sparsely 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 attaining 10 m or more in length and with scandent or pendulous branches. Stems cylindrical, lenticellate, woody, flattened when adult, bilobate in cross section, attaining 2.5 cm wide. Leaves oblong or elliptical, 7-12.5 × 2.8-4 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex acuminate, the base acute, obtuse, or less frequently rounded; the margins entire, with minute black dots; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny; lower surface yellowish green, with the midvein prominent, the secondary veins inconspicuous; petioles 2-3 mm long. Inflorescence an umbelliform raceme with 6-25 flowers and 1-3 nectaries in a central position, 3-3.5 × 0.4-0.5 cm; pedicels straight, 3.5-6 cm long, lenticellate; bracts 2, rounded, smaller than the sepals. Calyx green, 5-7 mm long, of 4 rounded sepals; corolla green, forming a calyptra, ca. 1 cm wide, early deciduous; stamens numerous, the filaments white; ovary green. Fruit globose, fleshy, light brown, lenticellate-rugose, 1.5-2 cm in diameter. Seeds numerous, minute, surrounded by a red pulp.

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

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 91; 581; 2198; 3736; 7145; 7151; 9404; 9457; Britton, N.L. 470; 2216; Heller, A.A. 359; Sintenis, P. 269; 1592; 4461; 5057; Stevenson, J.A. 5249; Underwood, L.M. 57; 823; 835.
less ↑

Xenostegia tridentata (L.) D. F. Austin & Staples, Brittonia 32: 533. 1980.

Fig. 79. H-M

Basionym: Convolvulus tridentatus L.

Synonym: Ipomoea angustifolia Jacq.

Merremia angustifolia (Jacq.) H. Hallier

Ipomoea filicaulis Willd.

Slightly woody vine, twining, much branched, climbing or creeping, 1-2 m in length, with scarce milky latex. Stems glabrous or pubescent, angular. Leaves alternate; blades 2-10 × 0.5-0.6 cm, chartaceous, linear, oblong, or lanceolate, the apex acute or acuminate and mucronate, the base hastate or auriculate, the margins 1-3-dentate in the basal portion; upper surface dark green, dull, glabrous, the venation flat; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous or puberulous, with a prominent midvein; petioles 1-1.5 mm long, slender, cylindrical, glabrous. Flowers solitary or in simple cymes, axillary; peduncles slender, 2.5-4 cm long. Calyx green, the sepals unequal, oblong or ovate-oblong, 4-10 mm long, the two outer ones smaller, obtuse-truncate at the apex; corolla white or pale yellow, campanulate, 1-2 cm long, the limb with 5 deep lobes; stamens not exserted; stigmas not exserted. Capsule subglobose, 4-9 mm long, 4-valvate, the sepals persistent; seeds 1-4, obtusely ovoid, 2-3 mm long, glabrous, light brown, dull, squamulose.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from September to May.

Status: Exotic, naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9478; Britton, N.L. 1498; 5782; Heller, A.A. 1276; 6440; Sintenis, P. 6738; Stevenson, J.A. 1315; 1701; Strong, M.T. 417; Underwood, L.M. 982.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

Tynanthus polyanthus (Bur.) Sandw., Kew Bull. 1953: 465. 1954.

Fig. 48. D-I

Basionym: Schizopsis polyanthus Bur.

Synonyms: Bignonia caryophyllea Bello

Tynanthus caryophylleus (Bello) Alain

Liana that climbs by tendrils, 10-20 m in length. Stems more or less quadrangular, tomentose, interpetiolar zone not glandular, usually with an interpetiolar line, attaining 3 cm or more in diameter; cross section of the mature stem with a cross of 4 arms formed by the phloem tissue, with a strong odor of cloves; pseudostipules foliaceous, ca. 1 cm long, deciduous. Leaves opposite, 2-foliolate, sometimes with a simple tendril, in the form of a spiral, up to 15 cm long; leaflets 6-13 × 3.5-10 cm, broadly ovate to subcircular, membranaceous, the apex cuspidate or short-acuminate, the base truncate, rounded, or subcordiform, the margins entire, undulate or crenulate; upper surface with the venation flat, glabrous; lower surface puberulent, especially on the veins; petioles and petiolules puberulent or short-pubescent, the petioles 1.7-4 cm long, deeply canaliculate, the petiolules 1.2-3 (-5) cm long. Flowers numerous in terminal or axillary panicles, bracteate, the axes pubescent; pedicels ca. 1 mm long. Calyx green, crateriform, 1-1.5 mm long, subtruncate, minutely 5-denticulate, puberulent; corolla white, tubular, bilabiate, ca. 4 mm long, puberulent outside, the 2 upper lobes smaller than the lower, the 3 lower lobes 2-3 mm long; stamens didynamous, inserted; ovary conical, ca. 0.8 mm long, densely appressed- pubescent; annular disc pubescent. Capsule linear, compressed, somewhat woody, dark brown, 15-27 × 0.5-0.7 cm, with the midvein inconspicuous; seeds numerous, brown, 4-5 mm long, the wings hyaline-membranaceous.

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

Status: Exotic, cultivated, uncommon.
less ↑

Vaccinium racemosum (Vahl) Wilbur & Luteyn, Brittonia 29: 275. 1977.

Fig. 92. J-M

Basionym: Hornemannia racemosa Vahl

Synonyms: Symphysia racemosa (Vahl) Stearn

Thibaudia krugii Urb. & Hoerold

Woody shrub, scandent or clambering, attainig 3-5 m in length. Stems much branched, coppercolored, more or less cylindrical, striate, attaining up to 3 cm in diameter, the nodes swollen. Leaves alternate, reddish when young, glabrous, coriaceous, slightly brittle, ovate or elliptical, 4-× 2-8 cm, in general convex, the venation pinnate, usually from near the base, the apex acuminate, the base rounded or obtuse, the margins entire or undulate, revolute; upper surface dark green, shiny, with the venation generally sunken, translucent and yellowish; lower surface yellowish green, with the palmate venation prominent; petioles 5-7 mm long, thick, rugose. Inflorescences of terminal corymbiform racemes; pedicels thick, 10-12 mm long. Calyx campanulate, ca. 5 mm long, green, smooth, with five minute lobes; corolla campanulate, early deciduous, yellowish green, ca. 8 mm long, the lobes ovate, ca. 5 mm long, reflexed; stamens 10, the filaments white, flattened, adnate to the base of the corolla, the anthers golden yellow, the distal tube as long as the theca; ovary inferior, the style simple, the stigma subcapitate. Fruit fleshy, globose, 5-8 mm in diameter, cardinal red, with the calyx persistent on the apical portion. Seeds numerous, ca. 1 mm long, foveate, obtusetrigonal.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from June to March.

Status: Native, rather common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3758; 7096; 7928; 10875; McKee, H.S. 10640; Sargent, F.H. 533; Shafer, J.A. 3343; 3649.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

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.
less ↑

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 ↑

Gonocalyx concolor Nevling, J. Arn. Arb. 51: 222. 1970.

Fig. 92. A-D

Epiphytic or terrestrial shrub, usually clambering, attainig 5 m in length. Stems much branched, slender, cylindrical, dark brown, the twigs minutely dense-pubescent. Leaves alternate, ovate, ovate-elliptical, or less frequently rounded, flat, rigid-coriaceous, 1.5-2.7 × 1-2 cm, the apex obtuse or acute, sometimes rounded, mucronate, the base obtuse or rounded, the margins slightly revolute or flat, entire or crenulate; upper surface glabrous, with the midvein sunken; lower surface pale green, shiny, with scattered papilliform hairs, the midvein prominent, the lateral venation inconspicuous; petioles 2-2.5 mm long. Flowers solitary, axillary, pendulous; peduncle 7-11 mm long. Calyx campanulate, red, with 5 longitudinal ribs, 3-3.5 mm long; corolla tubular-campanulate, red, ca.18 mm long, with 5 broadly deltate, expanded lobes; stamens 8, the filaments ca. 2 mm long, pubescent, the anthers with the distal, tubular portion of the theca 4-5 times longer than the theca, projecting slightly outside the corolla; ovary inferior, the style thick, the stigma red, exserted. Fruits subglobose-5-angled, wine-red, truncate, 6.5-9 mm long (Kolterman et al. unpublished data).

Phenology: Collected in flower during April and July.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, quite rare.

Selected Specimens Examined: Axelrod, F. 6643.
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 ↑

Tournefortia maculata Jacq., Enum. Syst. Pl. 14. 1760.

Fig. 51. A-F

Synonym: Tournefortia laurifolia Vent.

Tournefortia peruviana Poir.

Vine or clambering or arcuate subshrub, 2-5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, not lenticellate. Leaves alternate; blades 5-12 (16) × 2.8-8 cm, elliptical, oblong, ovate, broadly ovate, or lanceolate, chartaceous or membranaceous, the apex acute, the base rounded, acute, or sometimes unequal, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous, shiny, with a prominent midvein; lower surface glabrous, shiny with the venation slightly prominent; petioles 1-1.8 cm long. Flowers numerous, pedicellate, in cymes with scorpioid branches, terminal, with puberulous axes. Calyx green, crateriform, 2-3 mm long, the sepals ovate or lanceolate, puberulous; corolla yellow, infundibuliform, 5-6 mm long, puberulous or glabrescent outside, minutely pubescent-papillose inside, the lobes subulate, long-acuminate, slightly reflexed; stamens inserted, the filaments very short, the anthers apiculate at the apex. Drupes depressed-globose, 2-4-lobed, ca. 8 mm in diameter, orange, sometimes with 2 or 4 circular black spots.

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

Status: Native, locally common.

Commentary: The populations of this species in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have been considered as a distinct species (T. laurifolia) based on the relative length of the corolla lobes. Nevertheless, this character is very variable across the range of distribution of T. maculata, and therefore the recognition of these populations at the species level is not justified.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 218; 5222; 5237; 10628; 11665; Axelrod, F. 4634; Britton, N.L. 2485; 2869; 4541; 5276; 5590; Eggers, B. 1298; Heller, A.A. 609; Liogier, A.H. 33133; Sargent, F.H. 184; Shafer, J.A. 2228; Sintenis, P. 1575; Webster, G.L. 8927.
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 ↑

Pristimera caribaea (Urb.) A. C. Sm., Brittonia 3: 378. 1940.

Fig. 59. A-F

Basionym: Hippocratea caribaea Urb.

Synonym: Hippocratea domingensis Urb. & Ekman

Woody vine, climbing, which supports itself on other plants by twining lateral branches and attains 10 m or more in length. Stems grayish, dark brown and lenticellate when mature. Leaves opposite; blades 6-11 × 2-6 cm, elliptical or ovateelliptical, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base acute to obtuse, the margins entire, denticulate or crenulate, the veins prominent on both surfaces. Flowers numerous, in dichasial cymes, dichotomous, axillary, 1.5-4 cm long; pedicels ca. 1 mm long. Calyx greenish yellow, of 5 triangular or broadly ovate sepals, 0.5-0.8 mm long, erose or ciliate-glandular at the margin; petals 5, elliptical or oblong, greenish yellow, 1.5-2.6 mm long; disc annular, 0.8-1.2 mm wide; stamens ca. 1 mm long; ovary glabrous, conical. Mericarps 3, compressed, elliptical, 3.5-5 cm long; seeds usually 4 per locule, ca. 1.5 cm long, winged.

Phenology: Collected in flower from November to January.

Status: Native, locally common.

Commentary: Hippocratea, Pristimera, and various genera have been considered as belonging to the Family Hippocrateaceae. Nevertheless, recent taxonomic evidence suggests that the Hippocrateaceae is an artificial group not distinguishable from the Celastraceae. For this reason, these have been added to the Celastraceae.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7229; 7236; 7722; 7803; 10617; Sargent, F.H. 16.
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 ↑

Psiguria pedata (L.) R. A. Howard, J. Arn. Arb. 54: 441. 1973.

Fig. 87. C-G

Basionym: Cucumis pedatus L.

Synonyms: Psiguria trilobata (L.)R. A. Howard

Cucumis trilobatus L.

Anguria trilobata Jacq.

Anguria plumeriana Schltdl.

Monoecious vine, herbaceous, 3-4 m in length and climbing by tendrils. Stems green, slender, striate, glabrous, somewhat fleshy; mature stems fleshy, with the bark very thick, corky, and fissured, with winged longitudinal projections; tendrils lateral, simple, filiform, 10-15 cm long. Leaves alternate; blades 7-13.5 × 5-13.5 cm, broadly ovate, deltoid, 3-lobed, 3-5-foliolate, membranaceous or chartaceous, the venation 5-palmate, the apex acute or acuminate, the lobes obtuse, the base cordiform or hastate, the margins undulate, denticulate, ciliate; upper surface dark green, dull, puberulous, pustulose; lower surface puberulous, sometimes pustulose, light green, dull, with prominent venation; petioles slender, glabrous, 2.5-5 cm long. Staminate flowers in axillary racemes; peduncle as long as or longer than the accompanying leaf; calyx yellowish green, urceolate, 5-7 mm long, the lobes deltate; corolla orange, tubular, ca. 11 mm long, papillose outside, the lobes oblong, ca. 2 cm long; anthers sessile, compressed, lanceolate, 5-8 mm long; pistillode absent. Pistillate flowers solitary or in pairs, axillary, peduncles shorter than the accompanying leaf; calyx and hypanthium fusiform or tubular, 3-3.2 cm long, the lobes subrounded, apiculate, ca. 2 mm long; corolla orange, ca. 2.8 cm long, the lobes free almost to the base, obovate. Berry ellipsoid, smooth, ca. 4 cm long; seeds numerous, elliptical, ca. 7 mm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower in January, May, July, and October and in fruit in July and November.

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 203; 7781; 10593; 10702; 11659; Goll, G.P. 627; 762; Sintenis, P. 2131; Sintenis, P. 2371. Sechium edule: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10528; Axelrod, F. 4738. Sicana odorifera: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 12137; Sintenis, P. 5208; Stevenson, J.A. 6664.
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 ↑

Pinzona coriacea Mart. & Zucc. in Zucc., Abh.Math.-Phys. Cl. Königl. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. 1: 371. 1832.

Fig. 1C; 91. A-K

Synonym: Doliocarpus calinoides (Eichl.) Gilg.

Twining liana attainig 30 m in length; stems cylindrical, up to 10 cm in diameter, producing abundant potable water when cut; bark reddish brown, peeling in a scaly manner; cross section with concentric rings of xylem alternating with rings of parenchyma. Branches puberulent, angular, scabrous, glabrescent, and cylindrical when mature. Leaves alternate, 8.5-22 × 3-12.5 cm, broadly elliptical, ovate to obovate, coriaceous, the apex rounded, sometimes shortapiculate, the base rounded to subcordiform, the margins revolute, sinuate, or dentate-mucronate; upper surface scabrid, sometimes with the veins appressed-pubescent; lower surface with prominent venation, papillose; petioles thick, 1-3.5 cm long, winged, with the base decurrent to half the diameter of the branch. Inflorescences of axillary panicles, 3-7 cm long, pilose; bracts oblong to ovate, 1-2 mm long. Calyx of 3-4 subequal sepals, ca. 2 mm long; petals 3, obovate, longer than the sepals; stamens 25-30, the filaments sinuate; ovary superior, bicarpellate, biglobose, glabrous. Fruit capsular, bilobate, bilocular, crustose, tardily dehiscent. Seeds 2 per fruit, with an orange arillode.

Phenology: Collected in flower in May and June and in fruit in November.

Status: Native, locally common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10821; 10863; Sintenis, P. 1442; 2629; 6173.
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 ↑

Passiflora serrato-digitata L., Sp. Pl. 960. 1753.

Fig. 136. A-B

Slightly woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 10-15 m in length. Stems cylindrical, brittle, attaining 1 cm in diameter; cross section with the pith hollow. Leaves alternate, 5-7-palmately lobed, 9-15 × 14-20 cm, the lobes oblong, acuminate at the apex, the base subcordiform, the margins finely serrate; upper surface shiny, glabrous; lower surface glabrous, with prominent venation; petioles 6.5-15 cm long, glabrous, with a pair of conical stipitate glands at the base of the blade and another in the middle; tendrils simple, axillary, longer than the leaves. Flowers solitary, axillary, subtended by an involucre of 3 foliaceous bracts, ca. 4 cm long,ovate, fleshy, with the veins notably pink. Sepals lanceolate, ca. 3 × 2.5 cm, greenish yellow with pink dots. Petals 5, white, oblong, ca. 3 × 1 cm; corona biseriate, the segments filiform, violet; anthers ca. 13 mm long; stigmas subglobose. Fruit a globose berry, crustaceous, 5-6.5 in diameter, yellow when ripe. Seeds numerous, more or less elliptical, ca. 6 mm long, foveate.

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

Status: Native, rare.

Selected Specimens Examined: Axelrod, F. 5749; Eggers, B. 1372; Sintenis, P. 5426; Stevenson, J.A. 5210.
less ↑

Paullinia plumieri Triana & Planchon, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Sér. 4: 18. 360. 1862.

Fig. 150. E-H

Woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 3-7 m in length. Stems cylindrical, tomentose or tomentulose, up to 0.5 cm in diameter; cross section simple (with a single vascular cylinder). Leaves alternate, biternate; leaflets chartaceous, the margins serrate, revolute; upper surface glabrous, puberulent on the midvein; lower surface with prominent venation and puberulent, with a tuft of hairs in the axils of the secondary veins, the tertiary venation dark, in the form of lines, sometimes with glandular papillae; terminal leaflets 4-9 × 2-3 cm, lanceolate or ovate, the apex obtuse or acuminate, the acumen obtuse, the base long-attenuate; lateral leaflets 2.5-5 × 1.2-2.2 cm, oblong, the apex obtuse or acute, the base obtuse or rounded; rachis narrowly winged, 1-3.2 cm long; petioles not winged, 1-5.5 cm long; stipules triangular, 1-2 mm long; tendrils in pairs, spirally twisted, at the end of short axillary axes, from which an inflorescence usually develops. Inflorescences of axillary thyrses, with numerous pedicellate flowers, zygomorphic, in lateral cincinni; axes tomentose. Calyx densely tomentose, of 4 sepals, 2.5-3.5 mm long; petals white, obovate, ca. 3.5 mm long; petaliferous appendages slightly shorter than the petals, fleshy and yellow at the apex; ovary tomentose. Capsule three-winged, elliptical or obovate in outline, red, pubescent, 1.7-2 cm long. Seeds one per locule, black, elliptic-trigonal, ca. 6 mm long, with a white and emarginate aril at the base.

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

Status: Apparently native, although uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Shafer 1158.
less ↑

Passiflora berteroana Dc., Prodr. 3: 325.1828.

Fig. 132. A-D

Herbaceous vine, attainig 1.5-4 m in length and climbs by means of axillary tendrils. Stems slender, angular, striate, glabrous. Leaves alternate or grouped on short axillary branches, trifoliolate, the leaflets usually deeply trilobate, 1.2-3.0 × 2.0-4.0 cm, the lobes spathulate, the apices truncate and mucronate, the base cuneate, the margin undulate, revolute; upper surface glabrous; lower surface glabrous, with prominent venation; petioles 2-3(6) mm long, canaliculate, without glands; stipules subulate, 2.5-4 mm long; tendrils simple, filamentous. Flowers axillary, solitary or in pairs; the bracts subulate, alternate, not forming an involucre; peduncle 8-11 mm long, articulated near the apex. Sepals subulate, green or whitish, 6-7 mm long; petals pale green or whitish, subulate, ca. 3 mm long; corona of two series of filiform filaments, the outer ones longer, yellowish, the inner ones much shorter than the outer ones, green; gynophore ca. 3 mm long, tubular; stamens 5; ovary ellipsoid, the styles recurved, the stigmas capitate. Fruit a fleshy berry, globose (fide Liogier, 1994), ca. 7 mm in diameter.

Phenology: Collected in flower in September and December.

Status: Native, extremely rare.
less ↑

Odontosoria scandens (Desv.) C. Chr., Ind. Fil. 354, 465. 1906.

Fig. 7. D-F

Basionym: Humata scandens Desv.

Synonym: Odontosoria uncinella (Kunze) Fée

Clambering fern. Rhizomes creeping, scarcely elongate, densely covered with reddish brown scales at the apex. Fronds 3-pinnate, glabrous, clambering or twining, up to 2 m in length; pinnae numerous, opposite or subopposite, 10-18 cm long, lanceolate or oblong; pinnules subopposite or alternate; secondary pinnules bilobed or laciniate, cuneiform, coriaceous, the apex not revolute; rachis yellowish, unarmed (rarely with scattered small spines), smooth.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7825; 9431. Britton, N.L. 1457; 2454; 2613; Proctor, G.R. 39422; 40812; Sargent, F.H. 403; 3139; Schubert 408; Sintenis, P. 4600; Webster, G.L. 8767.
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 ↑

Matelea variifolia (Schltr.) Woodson, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 28: 226. 1941.

Fig. 29. I-L

Herbaceous vine, twining, 3-4 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems slender, cylindrical, puberulous, glabrescent, 2 mm or less in diameter; pubescence of curved, reflexed hairs. Leaves opposite; blades 4.5-10 × 2-4.5 cm, lanceolate, elliptical, or oblong, membranaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base acute, rounded, or cordiform, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, glabrous, with 2 acicular glands at the union with the petiole; lower surface pale green, glaucous, glabrous; petioles 0.8-4 cm long, with 2 lines of hairs along the upper surface. Flowers few, arranged in short-pedunculate cymes; pedicels 6-8 mm long. Calyx green, rotate, of 5 oblong-ovate sepals, 2-2.5 mm long; corolla rotate, pale green with dark green venation, 10-14 mm in diameter, the lobes rounded, imbricate, ca. 5 mm long; corona annular, green. Fruits unknown.

Phenology: Flowering from May to October.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, uncommon.
less ↑

Lomagramma guianensis (Aubl.) Ching, Amer. Fern J. 22: 17. 1932.

Fig. 10A-B

Basionym: Polypodium guianense Aubl.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes climbing by aerial roots, reddish brown, 3-7 mm wide, with deltoidattenuate scales, 1-1.5 mm long. Fronds horizontal or pendulous. Sterile fronds 0.45-1 m long; stipes 6-20 cm long, dark brown, glabrous or with some scattered scales; rachis cylindrical toward the base, narrowly winged toward the apex; pinnae 20-50, alternate or subopposite, elliptical to lanceolate, chartaceous, 6-14 × 1-2.3 cm, the apex long-acuminate, the base cuneate, unequal, the margins serrate, glabrous or with some scattered hairs on the lower surface; midvein prominent on both surfaces, secondary venation reticulate, slightly prominent, yellowish. Fertile fronds smaller than the sterile ones; pinnae linear, 2-5 × 2-4 mm, the apex obtuse, the base obtuse; lower surface densely covered with ferruginous sporangia.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in May.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Proctor, G.R. 41108; Sintenis, P. 426; 526.
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 ↑

Hypolepis urbanii Brause in Urb., Symb. Antill. 9: 344. 1925.

Fig. 6. D

Clambering fern. Rhizomes covered with brown articulate hairs. Fronds clambering, 3-pinnate-pinnatifid, 3 m or more in length; blades coriaceous, pubescent on the lower surface, triangular in outline, up to 1 m wide at the base, the venation yellowish; pinnae subopposite, up to 50 cm long, oblong-deltoid, acuminate; rachis glabrescent or slightly muricate; primary pinnules subopposite or alternate, 3-15 cm long, narrowly oblong-deltoid in outline; stipe and rachis light brown, dark toward the base, glabrescent, unarmed. Sori submarginal; indusia membranaceous, yellowish, glabrous, crenate.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in February.

Status: Native, rare.

Selected Specimens Examined: Proctor, G.R. 40130.
less ↑

Hyperbaena laurifolia (Poir.) Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 304. 1899.

Fig. 126. I-O

Basionym: Cissampelos laurifolia Poir.

Synonyms: Hyperbaena glauciramis Urb. & Ekman

Hyperbaena pellucida Urb. & Ekman

Hyperbaena apiculata Urb. & Ekman

Erect, decumbent, or scandent shrub attainig 5-6 m in length. Stems cylindrical, glabrous, striate. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, elliptical or less frequently elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous, 8-16 × 2.3-5 cm, with the venation pinnate, the apex acute, the base obtuse, the margins entire; upper surface with the venation pale; lower surface glabrous, the primary vein prominent, the secondary and tertiary venation slightly prominent, reticulate; petioles 0.7-1.7 cm long, pulvinate at the apex and the base. Inflorescences racemose, of minute greenish flowers; the axes ferruginous-strigulose; staminate inflorescences clustered, much longer than the petioles; pistillate inflorescences solitary or clustered, as long as or shorter than the petioles. Staminate flowers: calyx ca. 0.5 mm long; petals ca. 1 mm long; stamens 6, almost sessile. Monocarps circular, slightly compressed, glabrous, 2.3-2.7 cm long.

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

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 6998.
less ↑

Hyperbaena domingensis (Dc.) Benth., J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 5, Suppl. 2: 50. 1861.

Fig. 1F; 126. A-H

Basionym: Cocculus domingensis Dc.

Twining liana attainig 15 m in length, or less frequently a scandent shrub with numerous lateral branches. Stems cylindrical, glabrous or puberulous; cross section with concentric rings of xylem. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, ovate or broadly ovate, 4-20 × 2.5-12 cm, with the venation pinnate, the apex acute or acuminate, the base cordiform or truncate, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous or puberulent on the primary and secondary veins; lower surface glabrous, the venation prominent, the tertiary venation reticulate; petioles 1-6 cm long, swollen at the apex. Inflorescences racemose, of minute white or greenish flowers; staminate inflorescences clustered; pistillate inflorescences solitary. Staminate flowers: calyx 0.6-0.8 mm long; petals ca. 1 mm long; stamens 6, ca. 1 mm long. Pistillate flowers slightly larger; ovary of 3 ellipsoid carpels. Monocarps obovoid, purple, glabrous, 1.0-1.5 cm long.

Phenology: Collected in flower during June, July, and November and in fruit during October and December.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3173; 5084; 7030; 11698; Liogier, A.H. 10117; 10324; Shafer, J.A. 3238; Sintenis, P. 4220.
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 cayensis Britton in Britton & Millsp., Fl. Bahamas 349. 1920.

Fig. 73. A-C

Slightly woody vine, twining, much branched from the base, attaining 2 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, copper-brown, densely pubescent, with whitish stellate hairs. Leaves alternate or clustered on short axillary branches; blades simple, (1) 2-3 × 0.5-1.5 (2) cm, elliptical, ovate, obovate, or rounded, coriaceous or sub fleshy, the apex rounded or less frequently acute, emarginate and mucronate, the base acute, obtuse, or cuneate, the margins revolute, reddish, with stellate hairs; upper surface yellowish green, glabrous or with some scattered stellate hairs, the midvein sunken; lower surface yellowish green, dull, with a prominent midvein, covered with stellate hairs; petioles 5-12 mm long, reddish, densely covered with stellate hairs. Flowers arranged in simple dichasial cymes; peduncles ca. 4 mm long, stellate-pubescent; pedicels 6-8 mm long, stellate-pubescent. Calyx green, crateriform, the sepals ovate, 2.5-3 mm long, acute at the apex, the margins brown; corolla white, infundibuliform, ca. 1 cm long, deeply lobed, the lobes ovate, ca. 5 mm long; stamens white, exserted; stigmas white, bilobate. Capsule ovoid, ca. 4 mm in diameter, light brown, glabrous; seeds pyriform-triangular, 2-3 mm long, puberulous or glabrous.

Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit in mid-September.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Commentary: Jacquemontia cayensis can be confused with J. havanensis; both species are quite variable, to the point that it is difficult to identify some specimens as one species or the other. As a general rule, J. cayensis has leaves rounded at the apex and flowers clustered in reduced cymes. Jacquemontia havanensis, on the other hand, has leaves with acute or obtuse apices and the cymes contain 4 or more flowers.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7874; 10975; 11560; 11564; Liogier, A.H. 10794.
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 ↑

Forsteronia portoricensis Woodson, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 21: 618. 1934.

Fig. 19. A-F

Synonym: Forsteronia corymbosa sensu Britton & P. Wilson

Woody vine, twining, much branched from the base, 7-15 m in length, with abundant creamcolored latex. Stems dark brown, glabrous, cylindrical, lenticellate. Leaves opposite; blades 4-8 × 1.8-3.8 cm, elliptical or broadly elliptical, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex acute, the base obtuse or rounded, the margins entire, slightly undulate, revolute; upper surface dark green, shiny, with a slightly prominent midvein, without glands; lower surface yellowish green, shiny, with a prominent midvein, domatia absent; petioles 5-7 mm long, slightly winged or sulcate; stipules interpetiolar, minute, brown, acicular. Flowers in terminal corymbiform cymes, 3-8 cm wide; pedicels pink, 7-12 mm long, with a pair of minute bracteoles at the base. Calyx cardinal red, glabrous, the sepals ovate, free to the base, 1.5-1.7 mm long, ciliate; corolla cardinal red, infundibuliform, 5-6 mm long, the lobes oblong, as long as or longer than the tube; stamens exserted. Follicles straight, ca. 8 cm long; seeds numerous, with long, silky hairs.

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

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, quite common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 313; 319; 2957; 5223; 7131; 10827.
less ↑

Gleichenia rubiginosa Mett., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Sér. 5, 2: 267. 1864.

Fig. 9. E

Synonym: Dicranopteris rubiginosa (Mett.) Maxon

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes creeping, reddish brown, with attenuate, ciliate scales at the apex. Fronds clambering or creeping, 1-2 m in length; pinnae 2-3 times bifurcate, with a tuft of scales in the bifurcation; rachis cylindrical, with some scattered hairs, the primary rachis with proleptic indeterminate growth, the secondary ones not developed; pinnae 10-25 cm long, the lower surface glaucous, glabrous except for the main veins, which are covered with reddish scales or cilia; secondary pinnules oblong, the apex retuse. Sori yellowish.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in February and August.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9423; Gleason 33; Proctor, G.R. 39419; 40136; 42052.
less ↑

Metastelma decipiens Schltr. in Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 249. 1899.

Fig. 30. E-H

Synonyms: Cynanchum decipiens (Schltr.) Alain, non C.K. Schneid.

Metastelma fallax Schltr.

Metastelma grisebachianum Schltr.

Cynanchum grisebachianum (Schltr.) Alain

Metastelma albiflorum Schltr.

Metastelma decaisneanum Schltr.

Cynanchum decaisneanum (Schltr.) Alain

Cynanchum cheesmanii Woodson

Herbaceous vine, twining, 3-6 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems green, cylindrical, puberulous, glabrous when mature, 1-2 mm in diameter, much branched, intertwining like a braid. Leaves perennial, opposite; 1-3(5) × 0.5-1.5(2.5) cm, oblong-ovate, ovate or lanceolate, chartaceous, the venation pinnate, the apex acute or obtuse and apiculate, the base rounded, subcordiform, or truncate, the margins entire, revolute, and usually ciliate; upper surface dull, the venation flat, with a pair of acicular glands at the union with the petiole; lower surface pale, usually punctate, with slightly prominent venation; petioles 0.2-1 cm long; stipules interpetiolar, deltoid, ca. 0.4 mm long. Flowers few, in sessile or short-pedunculate cymes; pedicels 1.5-2 mm long. Calyx crateriform, green, the sepals ovate, ca. 1 mm long, more or less ciliate; corolla campanulate, light green outside, white or cream-colored inside, ca. 2 mm long, the lobes oblong-lanceolate, ca. 1.5 mm long, puberulous in the interior and on the margins, usually strigose toward the center; corona white, with linear or linear-spathulate segments, ca. 1.5 mm long; gynostegium sessile (< 0.3 mm long), green in the stigmatic portion. Follicle fusiform, 3.5-5.5 cm long, glabrous; seeds numerous, with a long tuft of hairs at the apex.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, quite common.

Commentary: Metastelma decipiens and M. fallax were described by Schlechter in 1899 in the same publication, as doubtfully different. These two entities cannot be maintained as different species, because the characters used to distinguish them overlap. For this reason, Britton and P. Wilson (1923) placed M. fallax in synonymy with M. decipiens. Since neither specific epithet was previously used in the genus Metastelma, the decision of Britton and P. Wilson, to apply the name M. decipiens to this taxon, should be maintained, obviously having priority over the decision of Liogier (1995) to place M. decipiens in synonymy under M. fallax. I have decided to place Metastelma grisebachianum Schltr. in synonymy under M. decipiens, because the characters used to separate the two species also overlap. These include the pubescence on the petals and the form of the corona segments, which in my view are not sufficient to distinguish two biological entities. In addition, the disjunction in the distribution of M. decipiens does not make biological sense, because it has only been cited for Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and Tobago, being absent in the Lesser Antilles. By recognizing M. grisebachianum as a synonym of M. decipiens, the distribution of M. decipiens is expanded to include the Lesser Antilles.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 602; 900; 1815; 1836; 1941; 2324; 2620; 3106; 3908; 3961; 4144; 4201; 4258; 4659; 6973; 7083; 9297; 9486; 10944; 11024; 11076; 11223; 11296; 11855; Axelrod, F. 10519; Britton, N.L. 129; 647; 883; 6817; Heller, A.A. 4603; Liogier, A.H. 10219; 30185; Ostenfeld, C.H. 23; Sintenis, P. 1692; Rose, J.N. 3191.
less ↑

Metastelma lineare Bello, Anales Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat. 10: 292. 1881.

Fig. 31. A-F

Synonym: Cynanchum lineare (Bello) Alain

Slender vine, twining, 2-5 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems green, cylindrical, more or less glabrous, 1 mm or less in diameter. Leaves perennial, opposite or subwhorled; blades 1.5-4.5 cm × 1.5-2 mm, linear, the apex acute or obtuse, subapiculate, the base obtuse or acute, the margins entire, revolute; upper surface glabrous with the midvein sunken, with a short acicular gland (or sometimes without a gland) where it joins the petiole; lower surface pale, with a prominent midvein, the secondary venation inconspicuous; petioles ca. 2 mm long, slender; intrapetiolar stipules acicular, 0.2 mm long. Flowers few, in subsessile cymes; pedicels slender, 1.5-2.5 mm long. Calyx green, crateriform, the sepals ovate, ca. 1 mm long; corolla white inside, yellowish green outside, 3.5 mm long, the lobes lanceolate, 2.5-3 mm long, reflexed at the apex, the inner surface puberulous from the middle portion toward the apex, strigose from the middle portion toward the base; corona white, the segments narrowly lanceolate, 1.2-2 mm long, longer than the gynostegium; gynostegium sessile. Follicles linear, 3-5 cm long, glabrous, splitting in half to expose numerous dark brown, ovate seeds, 5-5.5 mm long, with long, silky hairs at the apex.

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

Status: Native, relatively common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 382; 3746; 7204; 9361; 11414; Axelrod, F. 5386; Britton, E.G. 744; Britton, N.L. 2548; 2700; Sargent, F.H. 392; Stevenson, J.A. 2040; Underwood, L.M. 50; Webster, G.L. 8854.
less ↑

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

Fig. 31. G-K

Synonym: Cynanchum monense (Britton) Alain

Herbaceous vine, twining, evergreen or partially deciduous during the flowering period, much branched, attaining 5 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems green, slender, cylindrical, glabrous, 1 mm or less in diameter. Leaves opposite or clustered on short axillary branches; blades 7-16 × 1.5-3 mm, oblanceolate, oblong or obovate, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex obtuse, rounded, or truncate and apiculate, the base obtuse or attenuate, the margins entire, revolute, slightly ciliate; upper surface dull, with the midvein sunken and whitish, without glands at the union with the petiole; lower surface pale green, with a prominent midvein, the secondary venation slightly conspicuous; petioles light green or yellowish, compressed and sulcate, 1.5-2 mm long; stipules interpetiolar, triangular, ca. 0.4 mm long. Flowers few, fragrant, arranged in sessile cymes; pedicels 1-1.5 mm long. Calyx crateriform, green, the sepals ovate, ca. 1 mm long, papillose or glabrous outside; corolla white, ca. 2.5 mm long, the lobes ovate-lanceolate, free to the base, the inner surface densely short-pubescent from the middle to the distal portion, strigulose in the central basal portion; corona white, with lanceolate segments, fleshy, almost as long as the lobes of the corolla; gynostegium sessile. Follicles fusiform, ca. 2.5 cm long, glabrous.

Phenology: Collected in flower from December to May.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 4273.
less ↑

Metastelma parviflorum (Sw.) R. Br., Mem. Wern. Soc. 1: 52. 1809.

Fig. 31. L-P

Basionym: Cynanchum parviflorum Sw.

Synonym: Cynanchum parviflorum (R. Br.) Alain, nom. illegit.

Herbaceous vine, twining, 5-6 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems green, cylindrical, glabrous or puberulous, 2-3 mm in diameter. Leaves perennial, opposite; blades 1.4-3.5 × 0.8-1.5 cm, lanceolate or ovate, chartaceous, the venation pinnate, the apex acute or obtuse, usually mucronate, the base rounded, the margins entire or slightly undulate, revolute; upper surface glabrous, green, dull, with the midvein sunken, with a pair of acicular glands at the union with the petiole, these sometimes deciduous; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous, with prominent venation. Flowers few, in sessile or shortpedicellate cymes; pedicels 1- 2.5 mm long. Calyx crateriform, green, puberulous, the sepals ovate, ca. 1 mm long, ciliate; corolla campanulate, 3-3.5 mm long, greenish outside, the lobes oblong, acute, ca. 2 mm long, pubescent inside, white along the margin and green in the central portion; corona white, the segments linear, ca. 2 mm long; gynostegium stipitate (1.5-2 mm long). Follicles fusiform, 4-6 cm long, divaricate, glabrous; seeds numerous, lanceolate, brown, ca. 5 mm long, with a tuft of silky hairs at the apex.

Phenology: Flowering from October to May and fruiting from October to April.

Status: Native, quite common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 399; 1074; 3074; 5386; 6174; 7919; 10177; Britton, N.L. 55; 311; 1430; 1581; 1927; 2701; 5885; Fosberg, F.R. 58870a; Ricksecker, A.E. 170; Ricksecker, Mrs. J.J. 146; Sargent, F.H. 124; 3189; Sintenis, P. 861; 3813; Stevenson, J.A. 518.
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 ↑

Clusia gundlachii A. Stahl, Estud. 2: 122. 1884.

Fig. 60. A-G

Clambering shrub attaining 7 m in length, with abundant cream-colored latex. Trunk cylindrical, up to 10 cm in diameter at the base; branches pendulous, opposite, subcylindrical or slightly compressed, glabrous, with long, pendulous aerial roots. Leaves opposite; blades 5.5-10 × 2.1-6 cm, oblanceolate, elliptical, oval, or ovate, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex acute or obtuse, the base cuneiforme to obtuse, the margins entire, revolute; upper surface dark, slightly shiny, with the midvein yellowish; lower surface yellowish green, with a prominent midvein; petioles thick, 1-2 cm long. Flowers numerous, unisexual, arranged in dichasial cymes to form a terminal thyrse, as long as wide. Calyx green, crateriform, of 4 sepals, concave, rounded, in 2 series, the 2 outer sepals ca. 3 mm long, the inner ones ca. 4 mm long; corolla tubular, ellipsoid or ovoid, 2-3 mm long; staminate flowers with 10 stamens included within the corolla; pistillate flowers with sterile stamens, ovary urceolate, 4-5-locular, the stigmas sessile. In addition to the fertile inflorescences, this species produces sterile inflorescences, pendulous, much branched, with numerous green bracts, opposite and decussate along the axes. Capsule fleshy, ovoid or ellipsoid, 1.6-2 cm long, greenish, opening by 4-5 valves, each of which contains a row of minute, elliptical seeds, covered with a sticky orange matrix.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, rather common.

Commentary: This species, described by Dr. Agustín Stahl, was dedicated to Dr. Juan Gundlach, a German naturalist resident in Cuba, who had visited Puerto Rico in 1873 and in 1875-76. This species is superficially similar to Clusia minor L., which can be distinguished from C. gundlachii by the following key.

1a. Clambering shrub with long, pendulous branches; leaves oblanceolate, elliptical, oval, or ovate, the apex acute or less frequently obtuse; flowers functionally unisexual, the pistillate ones with staminodia; corolla tubular, ellipsoid or ovoid, 2-3 mm long, closed at the apex to form a calyptra; fruit ovoid or ellipsoid………..………………….....…C. gundlachii

1b. Erect shrub; leaves oblanceolate or spathulate, the apex rounded or obtuse; flowers hermaphroditic or pistillate (the latter with a resinous ring in place of the staminodia); corolla of free petals, rounded, ca. 1.5 cm long; fruit ovoid or subglobose..........……C. minor

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2188; 3007; 7929; 9318; 10634; 10865; 11443; Britton, N.L. 4214; 6374; Eggers, B. 1231; Howard, R.A. 16830; Liogier, A.H. 10011; 10096; Little, E.L. 16328; Maguire, B. 60022; Sargent, F.H. 657; Shafer, J.A. 2259; 3174; 3284; 3550; Sintenis, P. 350; 351; 1529; Underwood, L.M. 404.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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Stigmaphyllon emarginatum (Cav.) A. Juss., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., Ii, 13: 290. 1840.

Fig. 122. D-G

Basionym: Banisteria emarginata Cav.

Synonyms: Stigmaphyllon periplocifolium (Desf.) A. Juss.

Stigmaphyllon lingulatum (Poir.) Small

Woody vine, twining, attainig 5-10 m in length. Stem up to 8 cm in diameter; much branched from the base; bark very rough, reddish brown. Branches copper-colored, glabrous, more or less cylindrical, lenticellate, the young portions strigulose. Leaves opposite, coriaceous, lanceolate, ovate, oblong, linear, or less frequently rounded, 2.5-10(13) × 1-5.5(10.5) cm, sparsely appressed-pubescent when young, glabrescent, the apex acute or obtuse, emarginate-mucronate, the base truncate or cordiform, the margins entire or undulate; upper surface shiny, with the reticulate venation prominent; lower surface pale green, dull, with the midvein prominent; petioles yellowish, flattened on the upper surface, 0.2-2 cm long, with two discoid glands in the area adjacent to the blade; stipules triangular, minute. Inflorescences of axillary umbels, corymbs, or pseudoracemes, with 15-35 flowers; peduncles pubescent, 0.2-2.5 cm long; pedicels 3-23 mm long, articulated above the base; bracts minute, eglandular. Calyx of 5 ovate-triangular sepals, 4(5) of which have a pair of glands outside at the base. Petals 5, yellow, rounded, unguiculate, 11-15 mm long; stamens unequal, glabrous or puberulent; anterior style shorter; stigmas green. Mericarps 1.6-2.2 cm long, with an asymmetrical dorsal wing, curved on the upper margin and crenate on the lower margin.

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

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 591; 790; 992; 2017; 2897; 3965; 4042; 4355; 5206; 5366; 5439; 7081; 9307; 10536; 11218; 11228; 11430; 11473.
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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.
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Gleichenia brevipubis C. Chr., Bull. Herb. Boissier Ser. 2, 6: 280. 1906.

Fig. 9. D

Synonym: Sticherus brevipubis (C. Chr.) A.R. Sm.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes creeping, reddish brown, glabrous or with some scattered shortciliate scales. Fronds clambering or decumbent, 1-2 m in length, forming a dense thicket, difficult to penetrate; pinnae 2-3 times bifurcate, sparsely covered with scales in the bifurcation; rachis cylindrical, glabrescent, the primary rachis with proleptic indeterminate growth, the secondary ones short; terminal pinnae 20-35 cm long, with a few brown-purple, short-ciliate, and deciduous scales along the midvein on the lower surface; secondary pinnules oblong-deltoid, the apex obtuse; the upper surface glabrous; the lower surface white-woolly. Sori ferruginous.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in August.

Status: Native, rare.

Selected Specimens Examined: Proctor, G.R. 39420; 41419.
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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.
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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.
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Koanophyllon polyodon (Urb.) R. King & H. Rob., Phytologia 32: 262. 1975.

Fig. 34. E-F

Basionym: Eupatorium polyodon Urb.

Synonym: Eupatorium cordifolium sensu Bello, non Sw.

Erect or clambering shrub, scarcely branched, 1-1.5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, ferruginouspubescent, striate. Leaves opposite; blades 3-7 × 1.8-4.5 cm, chartaceous, ovate, 3-nerved from the base, the apex acute, the base obtuse, rounded or cordiform, the margins denticulate-serrate; upper surface scabrid, with the venation sunken; lower surface ferruginous-puberulous, with prominent venation; petioles 3-7 mm long, puberulous. Capitula numerous in terminal corymbs; peduncles 1-2.5 cm long, ferruginous-pubescent. Involucre campanulate, ca. 2.5 mm high; phyllaries green, in 1(2) series, of equal size, puberulous. Corollas whitish, tubular, ca. 3 mm long, the lobes papillose; stigmatic branches exserted. Achenes prismatic, ca. 2 mm long, pentagonal in cross section, papillose, light brown; pappus of numerous white setae, barbate, 3-3.5 mm long.

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

Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3744; 7063; 10526; 10735.
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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.
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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.
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.
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