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

Passiflora edulis Sims, Bot. Mag. 45: t. 1989. 1818.

Fig. 133. A-G

Woody vine, glabrous, attainig 5-10 m in length and climbs by means of axillary tendrils. Stems cylindrical, attaining 2 cm in diameter. Leaves alternate, glabrous, coriaceous, 7-12 × 9-15 cm, deeply trilobate, the lobes oblong or elliptical, the apex acute, the base cordiform, the margins serrate; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, with the venation yellowish; lower surface pale green, with prominent venation; petioles 3-6 cm long, with a pair of prominent sessile glands in the area where they join the blade; stipules filiform, ca. 5 mm long; tendrils simple. Flowers solitary, pendulous, axillary, subtended by an involucre of 3 ovate bracts, ca. 2 cm long; peduncle 4-6 cm long. Sepals oblong, green, whitish on the inner surface, 3-3.5 cm long; petals oblong, white on the inner surface, 2.5-3 cm long; corona with two series of appendages, with violet bands; gynophore green, ovoid, lobate, 5-7 mm long; stamens 5; ovary ellipsoid, green, the styles slightly reflexed, the stigmas capitate. Fruit ovoid, 5-7 cm long, yellow when ripe, the pericarp coriaceous, thick. Seeds numerous, black, elliptical, foveate, ca. 5 mm long, covered with a juicy orange matrix.

Phenology: Flowering from April to October and fruiting from June to December.

Status: Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 834; 5164; Liogier, A.H. 10258; Stevenson, J.A. 6420.
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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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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.
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Passiflora rubra L., Sp. Pl. 956. 1753.

Fig. 135. B-D.

Herbaceous vine, that climbs by means of axillary tendrils and attains 2-5 m in length. Stems angular, almost triangular, pilose, striate, attaining 5 mm wide, with many lateral branches. Leaves alternate, simple, bilobate or less frequently with a third lobe in a central position, 4-12 × 4-12 cm, chartaceous, pubescent, with three main veins that are borne from the base, the lobes acute, divergent, mucronate, the base cordiform, the margins entire; lower surface with the veins prominent, with a reddish tonality; petioles 2-4 cm long, pubescent, with a reddish tonality, without glands; stipules subulate, pubescent, ca. 5 mm long; tendrils simple, pubescent, up to 20 cm long. Flowers axillary, solitary or in pairs; pedicels pubescent, 3-5 cm long. Sepals oblong, 1.3-2.5 cm long, pilose and green on the outer surface, white on the inner surface; petals linear, whitish, 0.9-1.5 cm long; corona biseriate, the outer segments filiform, 1-1.3 cm long, pink to purple, the inner ones minute; gynophore cylindrical, 0.6-1 cm long; stamens 5, greenish; ovary ellipsoid-globose, green, hirsute, the styles reflexed, the stigmas capitate. Fruit a fleshy capsule, tardily dehiscent, up to 2 cm in diameter, ellipsoid or ovoid, red or red-pink, pilose, with 8 longitudinal ribs. Seeds numerous, elliptical, 3-4 mm long, transversely sulcate, covered by a white aril.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 103; 285; 905; 2438; 4052; 9375; Axelrod, F. 5246; 5812; Britton, N.L. 824; Goll, G.P. 250; 303; 374; Heller, A.A. Shafer, J.A. 2987; Sintenis, P. 341; 2804; 6017; Stevenson, J.A. 153; Underwood, L.M. 362.
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Passiflora foetida L., Sp. Pl. 959. 1753.

Fig. 133. J-K

Slightly woody vine, glandular-pubescent, attainig 5 m in length and climbs by means of axillary tendrils. Viscid glandular hairs with a strong disagreeable odor. Stems cylindrical, slightly striate, glandular-pubescent. Leaves alternate, chartaceous, usually trilobate, with the central lobe longer than the lateral ones, or less frequently simple, 5-12 × 5-10 cm, both surfaces pubescent, the lobes elliptical to ovate, with the apex acute or acuminate, the base cordiform or subcordiform, the margins crenate-serrate; petioles slender, pubescent, 2-5.5 cm long, pilose, eglandular; stipules ovate in outline, pinnatifid; tendrils pubescent, simple, 15 cm or more in length. Flowers axillary, solitary or clustered in pairs or threes, subtended by an involucre of three pinnatifid bracts, 2-3 cm long, glandular-viscid; pedicels 4-4.5 cm long, pubescent. Sepals 5, oblong, green, whitish on the inner surface, 2-2.5 cm long, mucronate at the apex; petals white, oblong, 2-2.5 cm long; corona multiseriate, the segments filiform, 15-17 mm long, the innermost series with a violet band at the base; gynophore cylindrical, green, with reddish spots, ca. 7 mm long; stamens 5; ovary ellipsoid, green, sparsely pilose, the styles pilose, the stigmas capitate. Fruit a coriaceous or papery berry, ovoid, 1.5-2.5 cm long, orange when ripe, covered by the persistent bracts. Seeds numerous, oblong, truncate at both ends, foveate, ca. 5 mm long, covered by a yellow aril.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 772; 1948; 5186; 5333; 11229; Axelrod, F. 5050; Boom, B. 8008; Britton, N.L. 2244; Goll, G.P. 393; Heller, A.A. 978; 1029; 6119; Johnston, J.R. 225; Liogier, A.H. 9805; Sargent, F.H. 193; 573; Sintenis, P. 810; Underwood, L.M. 113; 346.
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Passiflora suberosa L., Sp. Pl. 958. 1753.

Fig. 137. A-E

Synonym: Passiflora pallida L.

Non-woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 1-3 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, pubescent or glabrous, usually with a reddish tinge; mature stems with 4 longitudinal wings, of cork or corky material. Leaves alternate, chartaceous, glabrous, 4-15 × 4-10 cm, extremely variable in form, trilobate, lanceolate, ovate, linear, or elliptical, with 3 or 5 main veins that are borne from the base, the lobes more or less deep, oblong, ovate to almost linear, the central lobe longer than the lateral ones, the apex obtuse or acute, the base cordiform, rounded, or obtuse, sometimes peltate, the margins slightly revolute, ciliate; upper surface shiny, glabrous or puberulent; lower surface glabrous or pubescent, with slightly prominent venation; petioles 15-20 mm long, glabrous or pubescent, sulcate, reddish, with a pair of minute glands above the middle; tendrils axillary, simple, glabrous; stipules filiform, ca. 5 mm. Flowers erect, solitary or in pairs, axillary; pedicels articulate, 15-20 mm long; bracts absent. Sepals 5, lanceolate, 8-13 mm long, green outside, whitish or light green on the inner surface; petals absent; corona biseriate, the segments mulberry-colored, shorter than the sepals; gynophore cylindrical, ca. 5 mm long; stamens 5, green, ascendent; ovary ellipsoid, green, the styles reflexed, the stigmas capitate. Fruit an ovoid or ellipsoid berry, 10-12 mm long, dark violet when ripe. Seeds numerous, ellipsoid, ca. 3 mm long, covered by a green pulp.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 614; 630; 639; 898; 2063; 2330; 2434; 3006; 3133; 4075; 4302; 5196; 6958; 10498; 11374; 11474; 11510; Britton, N.L. 38; 5030; Fosberg, F.R. 57550; Goll, G.P. 185; 311; 331; 409; 634; Heller, A.A. 6068; Prey, N. 80; Sargent, F.H. 3208; Shafer, J.A. 2506; 2788; Sintenis, P. 644; 811; 1687; 3488; 5114; Stevenson, J.A. 1856; Underwood, L.M. 472; 601.
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