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

Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski in Acev.-Rodr., Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 114. 1996.

Fig. 41. D-I

Basionym: Silphium trilobatum L.

Synonym: Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc.

Creeping or decumbent herb, sometimes scandent, attaining 2 m in length. Stems obtusely quadrangular or cylindrical, puberulous. Leaves opposite; blades 3-10 × 2.5-6 cm, oblanceolate or rhombic, usually 3-lobed, chartaceous, the apex obtuse or acute, the base obtuse or attenuate, the margins serrate; upper surface pubescent or puberulous; lower surface pubescent or puberulous, with glandular dots, with prominent venation and pubescent; petioles 0-5 mm long. Capitula of numerous flowers, solitary, terminal; peduncles 3.5-14 cm long, puberulous; involucre turbinate; phyllaries in one series, 12-14, unequal, 10-14 cm long, oblanceolate or oblong, green; disc corollas tubular, yellow, 4.5-5.5 mm long, papillose on the outer surface of the lobes; ray corollas ligulate, the ligules ca. 15 mm long, subelliptical, trilobed at the apex. Achenes pyriform, ca. 2 mm long; pappus forming a corona, ca. 1 mm high.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Ornamental, cultivated and naturalized, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 923; 2894.
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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.
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