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Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

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200<br />

<strong>Vines</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Climbing</strong> <strong>Plants</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Puerto</strong> <strong>Rico</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Virgin</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong>s<br />

glabrous, <strong>the</strong> venation flat; lower surface pale<br />

green, dull, glabrous or puberulous, with a<br />

prominent midvein; petioles 1-1.5 mm long,<br />

slender, cylindrical, glabrous. Flowers solitary or<br />

in simple cymes, axillary; peduncles slender, 2.5-<br />

4 cm long. Calyx green, <strong>the</strong> sepals unequal,<br />

oblong or ovate-oblong, 4-10 mm long, <strong>the</strong> two<br />

outer ones smaller, obtuse-truncate at <strong>the</strong> apex;<br />

corolla white or pale yellow, campanulate, 1-2 cm<br />

long, <strong>the</strong> limb with 5 deep lobes; stamens not<br />

exserted; stigmas not exserted. Capsule<br />

subglobose, 4-9 mm long, 4-valvate, <strong>the</strong> sepals<br />

persistent; seeds 1-4, obtusely ovoid, 2-3 mm long,<br />

glabrous, light brown, dull, squamulose.<br />

Phenology: Flowering <strong>and</strong> fruiting from<br />

September to May.<br />

Status: Exotic, naturalized, uncommon.<br />

Distribution: Native to <strong>the</strong> Old World tropics<br />

(Africa-Pacific), naturalized in some localities <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn littoral zone (Manatí-Santurce), on<br />

s<strong>and</strong>y substrates. Also in South America <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Old World tropics.<br />

Public forest: Tortuguero.<br />

References: Austin, D. F. 1982. Convolvulaceae. Flora de Venezuela. Vol. 8. Ediciones Fundación,<br />

Venezuela. Austin, D. F. <strong>and</strong> S. Demissew. 1997. Unique fruits <strong>and</strong> generic status <strong>of</strong> Stictocardia<br />

(Convolvulaceae). Kew Bull. 52: 161-169. Austin, D. F. Genera <strong>of</strong> Convolvulaceae. WWW. Fau.edu/<br />

divdept/biology/protologues.htm. Staples, G. W. <strong>and</strong> D. F. Austin. 1981. Changes in <strong>the</strong> West Indian<br />

Operculina (Convolvulaceae). Brittonia 33: 591-596.<br />

19. Family CUCURBITACEAE<br />

Key to <strong>the</strong> genera<br />

1a. Fruits < 7 cm long.............................................................................................................................. 2<br />

1b. Fruits > 10 cm long ........................................................................................................................... 8<br />

2a. Fruits capsular, dehiscent, with numerous pendulous seeds, covered by a fleshy red aril<br />

............................................................................................................................ 11. Momordica<br />

2b. Fruits indehiscent, <strong>the</strong> seeds without an aril .................................................................................... 3<br />

3a. Fruits red; corolla white, <strong>the</strong> limb 3-5 cm in diameter ................................................... 3. Coccinia<br />

3b. Fruits green, yellowish, or orange; corolla <strong>of</strong> various colors, when white <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> limb 1-1.5 cm in<br />

diameter .............................................................................................................................................. 4<br />

4a. Fruits spinulose, spiny, or smooth, 4-5 cm long .......................................................4. Cucumis<br />

4b. Fruits smooth, 1-4 cm long ............................................................................................................... 5<br />

5a. Infructescences short, with <strong>the</strong> fruits densely clustered; stems articulate; roots tuberous<br />

................................................................................................................................. .6. Doyerea<br />

5b. Infructescences elongate, racemose, or <strong>the</strong> fruits solitary; stems not articulate; roots not tuberous......6<br />

6a. <strong>Plants</strong> herbaceous, usually 1-2 (4) m long; stems slender, < 5 mm in diameter; corolla yellow<br />

............................................................................................................................. 10. Melothria<br />

6b. <strong>Plants</strong> robust, usually 5 m or more in length; stems > 5 mm in diameter; corolla orange, creamcolored,<br />

white, or greenish yellow ..................................................................................................... 7<br />

7a. Corolla orange; stems cylindrical................................................................................... 12. Psiguria<br />

7b. Corolla cream-colored, white, or greenish yellow; stems angular...............................1. Cayaponia

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