Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands 387
47. Family ULMACEAE
1. CELTIS
Shrubs, trees, or lianas, with spines or unarmed. Leaves alternate, simple, usually serrate and less
frequently crenate or entire, petiolate; stipules minute and deciduous. Flowers 5-merous, unisexual or
sometimes bisexual; the staminate flowers in axillary cymes; the pistillate flowers solitary or few in
axillary cymes; calyx of free sepals. Petals absent; stamens 5; ovary superior, with a single locule;
ovule solitary and pendulous; styles 2. Fruit a fleshy drupe. A genus of approximately 80 species, the
majority of the Northern Hemisphere and South Africa.
1. Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sarg., Silva 7: 64. 1895.
Fig. 157. A-G
BASIONYM: Rhamnus iguanaeus Jacq.
SYNONYMS: Momisia iguanaea (Jacq.) Rose & Standl.
Celtis aculeata Sw.
Azufaifo, Cock spur
Scandent shrub or liana that climbs by means
of short lateral branches with recurved spines,
attainig 3-10(20) m in length. Stems glabrous or
puberulent at the extremities, cylindrical,
attaining 8 cm in diameter; bark grayish or light
brown, with numerous lenticels. Leaves alternate,