Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands 373
in the form of lines, sometimes with glandular
papillae; terminal leaflets 4-9 × 2-3 cm, lanceolate
or ovate, the apex obtuse or acuminate, the
acumen obtuse, the base long-attenuate; lateral
leaflets 2.5-5 × 1.2-2.2 cm, oblong, the apex
obtuse or acute, the base obtuse or rounded; rachis
narrowly winged, 1-3.2 cm long; petioles not
winged, 1-5.5 cm long; stipules triangular, 1-2
mm long; tendrils in pairs, spirally twisted, at the
end of short axillary axes, from which an
inflorescence usually develops. Inflorescences of
axillary thyrses, with numerous pedicellate
flowers, zygomorphic, in lateral cincinni; axes
tomentose. Calyx densely tomentose, of 4 sepals,
2.5-3.5 mm long; petals white, obovate, ca. 3.5
3. SERJANIA
mm long; petaliferous appendages slightly shorter
than the petals, fleshy and yellow at the apex;
ovary tomentose. Capsule three-winged, elliptical
or obovate in outline, red, pubescent, 1.7-2 cm
long. Seeds one per locule, black, elliptic-trigonal,
ca. 6 mm long, with a white and emarginate aril
at the base.
Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit from
February to April.
Status: Apparently native, although
uncommon.
Distribution: Known from one side of Sage
Mountain on Tortola. Also on some of the Lesser
Antilles.
Lianas or herbaceous vines, climbing by means of tendrils, usually with milky latex. Stems simple
or compound (cross section with a single vascular cylinder or with several vascular cylinders). Leaves
alternate, trifoliolate, pinnately 5-foliolate, biternate, or triternate; leaflets chartaceous or coriaceous;
rachis and petioles winged or not winged; stipules minute and caducous. Tendrils spirally twisted, in
pairs at the base of the axis of the inflorescence (this sometimes not developed). Inflorescence of
axillary thyrses, with flowers grouped in lateral scorpioid cymes; pedicels articulated at the base; calyx
of 4 or 5 sepals. Petals 4, with a petaliferous appendage on its inner surface; disc floral unilateral, with
2 or 4 glands; stamens 8, with unequal filaments; ovary superior, of 3 carpels, the style simple, branched
in 3 elongate stigmas. Fruit a schizocarp that separates into three samaroid mericarps, the seminiferous
portion distal and the wing proximal. Seed globose or ellipsoid, with a triangular or rounded scar at the
base. A neotropical genus of 230 species, the majority of savannas, thickets, and open areas.
Key to the species of Serjania
1a. Leaves 5-foliolate pinnate or less often biternate; stems with a single vascular cylinder
..............…………………………………………………………………………….. 1. S. diversifolia
1b. Leaves biternate triternate or bipinnate; stems with 5 or more vascular cylinders...............…... 2
2a. Leaves biternate (9 leaflets); glands of the floral disc pubescent at the base; ovary tomentose;
seminiferous locules of the fruit tomentose ..............………………..…….… 2. S. lucida
2b. Leaves triternate or bipinnate (more than 9 leaflets); glands of the floral disc glabrous or puberulent;
ovary glabrous or puberulent; seminiferous locules of the fruit glabrous or puberulent
..............…………………………………………………...............………………..... S. polyphylla
1. Serjania diversifolia (Jacq.) Radlk., Monogr.
Serjania 136. 1875.
BASIONYM: Paullinia diversifolia Jacq.
Woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils
and attains 6-10 m in length. Young stems
obtusely pentagonal, glabrous or puberulent,
reddish tinged, not producing milky latex; mature
stems cylindrical, rough, fragile, light brown;
cross section with a single vascular cylinder.
Leaves alternate, 5- foliolate pinnate or less often