Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands 321
1. Bougainvillea glabra Choisy in DC., Prodr.
13(2): 437. 1849.
Fig. 129. A-F
Trinitaria
Woody vine or shrub, clambering, attainig 15
m in length. Stem cylindrical, attaining 5-6 cm
in diameter; cross section of the stem with discrete
vascular bundles within the connective tissue.
Branches pubescent, puberulent, or glabrous, with
straight, axillary spines. Leaves alternate or
subopposite, 3-6 × 1.5-3 cm, chartaceous,
elliptical, puberulent, the apex acuminate, the base
attenuate, slightly asymmetrical, the margins
slightly sinuate; lower surface with the midvein
prominent; petioles slender, 4-12 mm long.
Dichasial cymes compound, on axillary branches
or at the end of axillary spines, the axes glabrous
or puberulent; bracts ovate, glabrous, cordiform
at the base, 2.5-4 cm long, of showy colors, red,
deep pink, orange, white, or purple. Perianth
tubular-hypocrateriform, 2.5-3 mm long,
pubescent, with 8-10 obtuse lobes, cream-colored.
Anthocarp fusiform, glabrous, ca. 1.5 cm long.
Phenology: Flowering throughout the year.
Status: Exotic, very common in our gardens.
Distribution: Much cultivated throughout
Puerto Rico. This is the most common species of
its genus in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It
grows well in dry areas and requires little
watering, for which reasons it is cultivated along
3. PISONIA
avenues and highways. Also throughout the
Antilles. Native to South America, but widely
cultivated around the globe.
2. Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd., Sp. Pl. ed.
2, 348. 1799.
Fig. 129. G-H
Trinitaria
Woody shrub, erect or clambering, attainig 5
m in length. Branches pilose, with straight,
axillary, pilose spines. Leaves alternate, 2.6-2.5
× 2.7-5 cm, chartaceous, ovate, the apex acute,
obtuse, or acuminate, the base obtuse, rounded,
or attenuate, slightly asymmetrical, the margins
sinuate; lower surface tomentulose, with
prominent pilose venation; petioles slender, 1-2.3
cm long, pilose. Dichasial cymes compound, on
axillary branches or at the end of axillary spines,
the axes pilose; bracts ovate, pubescent, pilose
along the midvein, cordiform at the base, 3.6.5.5
cm long, red or deep pink. Perianth tubularhypocrateriform,
2.2-3 mm long, pilose.
Phenology: Flowering throughout the year.
Status: Exotic, uncommon.
Distribution: Little cultivated in Puerto Rico.
Also throughout the Antilles. Native to South
America, but widely cultivated on a worldwide
level.
Trees, shrubs, or lianas, dioecious or monoecious. Leaves opposite or subopposite, sometimes with
axillary spines. Flowers unisexual, small, white or pale yellow, in axillary or terminal panicles, corymbs,
or cymes; bracts and bracteoles minute, persistent. Staminate flowers campanulate to obconical; stamens
6-8, exserted, the filaments unequal, connate at the base. Pistillate flowers tubular, 5-lobate; ovary
superior, sessile, the style exserted, the stigma branched. Fruit a dry anthocarp, oblanceolate or ellipsoid,
with 5 ribs that bear sticky, stipitate glands. A genus of 10-15 species, of tropical distribution.
1. Pisonia aculeata L., Sp. Pl. 1026. 1753.
Fig. 1A; 128. G-M
SYNONYM: Pisonia helleri Standl.
Escambrón, Prickly-mampoo
Liana or woody, clambering shrub, attainig
20 m in length. Stems more or less cylindrical,
glabrous or minutely pubescent, grayish or cream-
colored, lenticellate, attaining 7 cm in diameter;
cross section of the stem with discrete vascular
bundles within the connective tissue. Branches
short or elongate; short branches opposite,
divaricate, persistent, with recurved spines,
produced on the trunk; elongate branches at the
end of the stem, glabrescent, quadrangular, with
recurved axillary spines. Leaves opposite on the
elongate branches or whorled on the short lateral