Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

352
Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
1. Clematis dioica L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1084.
1759.
Fig. 143. J
Cabellos de ángel
Slightly woody vine, dioecious, that climbs by
means of twining leaves and attains 3-10 m in
length. Stems slender, sulcate, glabrous, almost
cylindrical, with many lateral branches. Leaves
opposite, trifoliolate; leaflets coriaceous, ovate or
cordiform, 5-9 × 2-7 cm, the apex acute or shortacuminate,
the base subcordiform or rounded, the
margins entire, sometimes with 1-2 teeth; upper
surface shiny, glabrous; lower surface pale green,
dull, glabrous or puberulent toward the base, with
slightly prominent venation; petiolules more or
less glabrous, the terminal one 1.5-3 cm long, the
lateral ones 0.7-2.5 cm long; petioles 3-7 cm long,
glabrous. Inflorescences axillary or terminal on
short lateral branches; flowers unisexual, in
dichasial cymes; pedicels 1.2-4 cm long, with a
pair of minute bracteoles below the middle. Sepals
white or cream-colored, oblanceolate or obovate,
4-10 mm long, more or less glabrous except for
the lanate-pubescent margins; stamens 30-50,
unequal; carpels 15-25, ca. 6 mm long. Fruit an
ellipsoid achene, slightly compressed, 3-4 mm
long, pilose, the margin not thickened, the style
plumose, persistent, 2-6 cm long, dispersed by
the wind.
Phenology: Flowering and fruiting from
October to February.
Status: Native, rare.
Distribution: Known from a single collection
made by Sintenis (5843) in 1887 in the area of
Barrio Callejones in Lares. Recently collected in
a mogotes in Aguadilla. Known from southern
Mexico, Belize, and the Greater Antilles.
2. Clematis flammulastrum Griseb., Pl. Wright.
153. 1860.
Fig. 4.E, 143. E-I
Cabellos de ángel
Slightly woody vine, dioecious, that climbs by
means of twining leaves and attains 3-4 m in
length. Stems slender, almost cylindrical, brittle,
puberulent, especially at the nodes; mature stems
fissured, with corky bark, attaining ca. 1 cm in
diameter. Leaves opposite, 5-9-foliolate; leaflets
coriaceous, ovate, lanceolate, oblong, or
sometimes deltate in outline, 2.5-6 × 0.8-3.6 cm,
the apex acute or acuminate, the base rounded or
subcordiform, the margins revolute, lobateserrate,
especially on the basal leaflets; upper
surface slightly shiny, glabrous or puberulent, with
the venation sunken; lower surface pale green,
dull, glabrous or puberulent, with prominent
venation; petiolules puberulent, 5-15 mm long;
petioles 2-7 cm long, puberulent. Inflorescences
axillary or terminal on short lateral branches;
flowers unisexual, in paniculiform dichasial
cymes; pedicels 2.5-3.2 cm long, strigulose, with
a pair of minute bracteoles almost at the base.
Sepals oblanceolate or obovate, 8-10 mm long,
sericeous on the surface; stamens 35-60, unequal;
carpels 20-30(50), ca. 6 mm long. Fruit an
elliptical achene, flattened, 3-4 mm long, pilose,
with the margin thickened on one border, the style
plumose, persistent, 1.5-3 cm long, dispersed by
the wind.
Phenology: Collected in flower in November
and in fruit in January.
Status: Native, not very common.
Distribution: Although not very common, this
species is found throughout Puerto Rico, except
for the wet areas. Also in the Greater Antilles.
Public Forests: Guajataca, Guilarte, and
Maricao.
3. Clematis polygama Jacq., Enum. Syst. Pl. 24.
1760.
Fig. 143. A-D
Cabellos de ángel
Slightly woody vine, dioecious, that climbs by
means of twining leaves and attains 10 m in
length. Stems slender, cylindrical, sulcate, pilose
or strigose, with many lateral branches. Leaves
opposite, trifoliolate; leaflets chartaceous, ovate
or lanceolate, 5-11 × 2-8 cm, the apex acute or
acuminate, the base rounded or subcordiform, the
margins entire, not lobate, sometimes with 1-3(5)
teeth; upper surface dull, glabrous or sparsely
strigulose; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous
or sparsely strigulose, with prominent venation;
petiolules strigulose, the terminal one 0.7-3.5 cm
long, the lateral ones 0.4-2 cm long; petioles 3-
13 cm long, strigulose. Flowers unisexual, in
axillary simple dichasial cymes, sometimes