Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

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Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
2. Canavalia nitida (Cav.) Piper, Contr. U. S.
Natl. Herb. 20: 562. 1925.
Fig. 99. F-G
BASIONYM: Clementea nitida Cav.
SYNONYM: Canavalia rusiosperma Urb.
Mato colorado, Haba de burro de jardín
Woody vine, twining, with numerous
pendulous branches, attainig 15-18 m in length.
Stems cylindrical, glabrous or puberulent, thick,
the bark light brown, almost smooth. Leaves
alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets coriaceous,
elliptical, oval, or oblong, involute, 6.5-12 × 3-
5.5 cm, the apex obtuse, acute, or rounded, the
base rounded, asymmetrical on the lateral leaflets,
the margins slightly revolute, thickened, both
surfaces glabrous, with the venation slightly
prominent; petiolules cylindrical, pubescent, 4-5
mm long; petioles 4-5 cm long, with the base
swollen; stipels absent; stipules minute,
deciduous. Inflorescences of axillary
pseudoracemes, 13-23 cm long, the flowers in
groups of three or four on each nodal swelling
along the rachis; pedicels 5-6 mm long,
puberulent. Calyx greenish, shiny, 15-18 mm
long, pubescent; corolla violet-pink, the standard
orbicular, ca. 2.5 cm long, with the center pale
yellow, the keel and the wings
ca. 1.5 cm long. Legume woody, brown, up to
20 × 5 cm, the valves with two slight ribs on the
sides of the suture. Seeds ca. 2 cm long, almost
circular or ellipsoid, crimson with the hilum
black.
Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from
August to February.
Status: Native, uncommon.
Distribution: In forests in moist areas, at
middle and lower elevations in central, northern,
and western Puerto Rico. Also on St. John and St.
Thomas; Hispaniola.
3. Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC., Prodr. 2: 404.
1825.
5. CENTROSEMA
Fig. 99. H-L
BASIONYM: Dolichos roseus Sw.
SYNONYMS: Dolichos maritimus Aubl.
Canavalia maritima (Aubl.) Urb.
Canavalia maritima Thouars
Dolichos obtusifolius Lam.
Canavalia obtusifolia (Lam.) DC.
Haba de playa, Habichuela playera, Mato de
playa, Bay bean, Canavalia
Woody vine, creeping or twining, much
branched from the base, attainig 2-6 m in length.
Stems smooth, glabrescent, green, mulberrycolored
at the nodes, with adventitious roots.
Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets 4-10.4 × 3-
10 cm, chartaceous, oblong, ovate, or orbicular,
involute, the apex obtuse, rounded, retuse and
mucronate, the base cuneate or rounded, the
margins entire; upper surface glabrous except for
the puberulent veins; lower surface puberulent,
yellowish green, dull, with prominent venation;
rachis sulcate, villous, 3-4.5 cm long; petiolules
swollen, villous, ca. 1 cm long; petioles sulcate,
villous, swollen at the base, 4-6 cm long; stipels
absent; stipules triangular, persistent.
Inflorescences of axillary pseudoracemes, 25-30
cm long, the flowers in pairs on each nodal
swelling along the rachis; bracts minute,
deciduous. Calyx 8-11 mm long, yellowish green,
with five lobes, three small and two large,
puberulent; corolla violet-pink, the standard
broadly elliptical, 2-2.5 cm long, reflexed, white
in the center, the wings and the keel shorter than
the standard. Legume 10-17 × 2.3-2.5 cm, oblong,
not flattened, subwoody, with three keels on each
valve. Seeds numerous, 1.5-1.8 cm long, ellipsoid,
brown, with the hilum white.
Phenology: Flowering and fruiting almost
throughout the year.
Status: Native, very common.
Distribution: Along the sandy coasts of the
littoral zone. On all the islands and keys of Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands; throughout the
tropical and subtropical coasts of the planet.
Public Forests: Guánica, Mona, and Piñones.
Herbaceous vines, twining. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; stipels present; stipules minute, persistent.
Flowers axillary, solitary or grouped on a bracteate peduncle; bracts appressed to the calyx; pedicels
more or less elongate. Calyx campanulate, the lobes 5, unequal or almost equal; corolla pink, lavender,