Common Vines & Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Gouania lupuloides (L.) Urb., Symb. Antill. 4: 378. 1910.

Fig. 144. A-H

Basionym: Banisteria lupuloides L.

Synonym: Rhamnus domingensis Jacq.

Gouania domingensis (Jacq.) L.

Woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 7-12 m in length. Stems with many lateral branches; bark grayish, fissured. Branches cylindrical, green, glabrous or puberulent; tendrils simple, semicircular in form, basal to the inflorescences or terminal on short lateral branches. Leaves alternate, 4.5-7.5(10.5) × 2-4(6.5) cm, chartaceous, ovate or elliptical, glabrous or puberulent, the apex acute or short-acuminate, the base rounded or subcordiform, the margins serrate; upper surface dark green, shiny, with the venation sunken; lower surface pale green, slightly shiny, with prominent venation; petioles 0.5-1.5 cm; stipules 2-3 mm long. Inflorescences of racemes, terminal or on short axillary branches, 5-10 cm long, pubescent. Calyx pubescent outside, the sepals ca. 1 mm long, triangular, glabrous on the inner surface; petals yellowish, ca. 1 mm long, forming a hood that covers the stamen; stamens slightly shorter than the petals; disc ca. 1 mm high. Fruit a threewinged schizocarp, 5-7 mm long, dehiscent into 3 trigonal mericarps. Seeds 3-4 mm long.

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

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2295; 3812; 7011; 7087; Goll, G.P. 230; 386; 582; Heller, A.A. 6104; Liogier, A.H. 10346; Shafer, J.A. 2356; 2860; Sintenis, P. 200; 1261; 1960; 2924; 5508; 5550; Stevenson, J.A. 385; 697.
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