Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands 179
Distribution: Known from Puerto Rico by a
single collection from Joyuda (Cabo Rojo) in 1913.
This species is known from Cuba, Hispaniola
(whence it was described), and the United States
(Florida).
20. Ipomoea tiliacea (Willd.) Choisy in A.DC.,
Prodr. 9: 375. 1845.
Fig. 71. D-H
BASIONYM: Convolvulus tiliaceus Willd.
Bejuco blanco, Bejuco de puerco, Goat foot,
Wild potato, Wild vine
Slightly woody vine, twining, 5-10 m in
length, with abundant milky latex. Stems glabrous
or pubescent, striate, cylindrical. Leaves alternate;
blades simple, 5-20 × 4-14 cm, ovate, chartaceous,
sometimes 3-5-lobed, the apex acuminate, the base
cordiform, the margins undulate, ciliate; upper
surface dark green, dull, usually with the venation
sunken, glabrous except for the pilose midvein;
lower surface pale green, with prominent
venation, slightly pubescent; petioles 4-25 cm
long, sulcate, puberulous. Flowers in double
dichasia, axillary; peduncles shorter than the
petioles. Calyx green, not accrescent, sepals
unequal, 8-12 mm long, oblanceolate, glabrous,
apiculate at the apex; corolla violet-pink to pale
pink, with the center darker, infundibuliform, 5-
6 cm long, the limb with 5 rounded lobes; stamens
and stigmas not exserted. Capsule depressedglobose,
8-10 mm in diameter, the pericarp thin,
light brown; seeds 4 per fruit, glabrous, dark
brown, dull, angular, 3.5-4 mm long.
Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout
the year.
Status: Native, very common.
Distribution: One of the most common species
of Ipomoea in Puerto Rico. It is found on roadsides
and river banks, on fences, in pastures, and in
forests at lower and middle-upper elevations. Also
on Culebra, Vieques and the Virgin Islands; the
Antilles, the United States (Florida), the Bahamas,
and from Mexico to Brazil.
Public forests: Carite, Ceiba, El Yunque,
Guánica, Guilarte, Maricao, Piñones, Río Abajo,
Toro Negro, Tortuguero, and Vega.
21. Ipomoea tricolor Cav., Icon. 3: 5, t. 208.
Fig. 71. I-K
Herbaceous vine, twining or creeping,
attaining 5 m in length, without milky latex.
Stems glabrous, cylindrical, slender. Leaves
alternate; blades simple, 5-12 × 4-14 cm, ovate,
chartaceous, the apex acuminate and mucronate,
the base deeply cordiform, the margins entire;
upper and lower surface glabrous, minutely
punctate, with the venation slightly prominent;
petioles 2.5-10 cm long, glabrous. Flowers in
simple or double dichasia, axillary; peduncle as
long as or shorter than the petioles. Calyx green,
not accrescent, sepals equal, 6-8 mm long,
lanceolate, glabrous, obtuse at the apex, with the
margin hyaline; corolla blue, turning violet when
mature, infundibuliform, 6-7 cm long, the tube
white outside and yellow inside, the limb with 5
rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas white, not
exserted. Capsule conical, 1.3-1.6 cm long, light
brown; seeds 4 per fruit, glabrous, black, dull, 9-
10 mm long.
Phenology: Flowering from November to
February.
Status: Exotic, naturalized, uncommon.
Distribution: On roadsides and in disturbed
areas. Also on St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas.
Native to Central America, but distributed
throughout the tropics because of its cultivation.
22. Ipomoea triloba L., Sp. Pl. 161. 1753.
Fig. 72. A-C
Bejuquillo de puerco
Herbaceous vine, twining or creeping, 2-3 m
in length, with scarce milky latex. Stems green,
cylindrical, smooth, slender, puberulous. Leaves
alternate; blades simple, 3-6 (9) × 3-5 (6.5) cm,
ovate to subcircular, usually 3-5-lobed,
chartaceous, the apex mucronate, acute, or
emarginate, the base cordiform or sagittate, the
margins smooth, slightly revolute; upper surface
with minute hairs on the veins; lower surface
glabrous, with prominent venation; petioles
glabrous, somewhat sulcate, 2-4 cm long, with
two glandular depressions where they join the
blade. Flowers in simple or compound dichasial
cymes, axillary; peduncles longer than the
petioles, quadrangular, pubescent, tuberculate.
Calyx green, not accrescent, the sepals pilose,
subequal, ca. 8 mm long, ovate to oblanceolate,
the apex acuminate or acute; corolla violet-pink