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

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.
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Cissus trifoliata (L.) L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 897. 1759.

Fig. 164. E-F

Basionym: Sicyos trifoliata L.

Synonym: Cissus acida L.

Non-woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 2-15 m in length. Stems much branched, cylindrical, fleshy, 3-8 mm in diameter, glabrous or puberulent, reddish brown or grayish when mature, the nodes swollen. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate, fleshy, glabrous; leaflets ovate, obovate, or oblong, 2-3 × 1-2.6 cm, the apex rounded, acute, or truncate, the base cuneate or attenuate, the margins deeply dentate-mucronate on the upper half; upper surface and lower surface dull; petioles fleshy, sulcate, 1-3 cm long; stipules 3.5-5 mm long, lanceolate; tendrils opposite the leaves, simple, filiform, 6-8 cm long, twisted in the form of a spiral. Inflorescences in cymes, opposite the leaves. Calyx yellowish green, 1.5-2 mm long. Petals 4, yellowish or whitish, reflexed, 2-2.5 mm long, lanceolate-triangular, deciduous. Fruits depressed-globose, 7-8 mm in diameter, shiny, metallic blue or black when ripe.

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

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1017; 1799; 2693; 4375; 5127; 5363; 5446; 11251; 11497; Axelrod, F. 6346; Breckon, G. 4067; Sintenis, P. 4901; Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2015.
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