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

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.
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