Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands 47
ovary superior, bicarpellate, bilocular, the stigmas bilobed or capitate. Capsules ellipsoid or claviform;
seeds 2-4, lenticular. A genus of about 40 species, of paleotropical origin.
1. Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson in
Thwaites, Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 235. 1860.
Fig. 13. A-E
BASIONYM: Justicia gangetica L.
Decumbent herb, creeping or clambering, 1-
3 m in length. Stems quadrangular. Leaves 2.5-
11 × 2.5-6.5(8) cm, ovate to lanceolate,
chartaceous, pubescent on both surfaces,
especially on the veins, the apex acuminate, the
base obtuse, truncate, rounded, or cordiform, the
margins crenulate; petioles 0.5-3(4.5) cm long.
Flowers arranged in terminal spikes on axillary
branches; bracts and bracteoles ovate, ciliate.
Calyx green, 5-7 mm long, the sepals lanceolate;
corolla light yellow or pale violet, 2.3-5 cm long,
2. OPLONIA
with glandular hairs on the outer surface; stamens
and pistil inserted on the floral tube. Capsules 2-
2.5 cm long, claviform, light brown when ripe,
densely covered with glandular hairs; seeds light
brown, with irregular margins.
Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit
throughout the year.
Status: Exotic, ornamental, naturalized in
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, quite common.
Distribution: On roadsides and in open places.
Also on Vieques, St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas,
and Tortola. A species of Asiatic origin, cultivated
throughout the tropics.
Public forests: Ceiba, El, Yunque, Río Abajo,
and Tortuguero.
Erect or clambering shrubs, usually with opposite, axillary spines. Leaves opposite, small, with
short petioles or sessile, the secondary veins inconspicuous; stipules absent. Flowers bisexual,
zygomorphic, heterostylous, axillary, solitary or in short, condensed racemes. Calyx of 5 acicular sepals;
corolla infundibuliform, zygomorphic, with 5 lobes, one of them wider than the others; stamens 2,
inserted or exserted; ovary superior, bicarpellate, bilocular, the style filiform, the stigma bilobate. Fruit
capsular, claviform; seeds 2 or 4, lenticular. A genus of 19 species, native to tropical America and
Madagascar.
1. Oplonia spinosa (Jacq.) Raf., Fl. Tellur. 4: 65.
1838.
Fig. 13. F-K
BASIONYM: Justicia spinosa Jacq.
SYNONYM: Anthacanthus spinosus (Jacq.) Nees
Clambering shrub, 2-4 m in length. Stems
slender, obtusely quadrangular, densely covered
with minute, whitish hairs when young, with
numerous lateral branches; spines axillary, 0.4-
1.2 cm long, recurved or rarely straight,
perpendicular to the stem. Leaves opposite,
usually clustered at the nodes; blades 0.5-2.2 ×
0.4-2 cm, elliptical, obovate, or narrowly
elliptical, rigid-coriaceous, glabrous, the apex
obtuse or rounded, slightly sulcate, usually with
a tuft of minute hairs, the base cuneate or
attenuate, the margins revolute; upper surface
shiny, usually with cystoliths; lower surface dull,
pale green; petioles minute. Flowers solitary or
clustered in condensed racemes; bracts minute,
triangular. Calyx green, infundibuliform, ca. 3
mm long, of 5 lanceolate sepals; corolla lilac or
lavender, 1.2-1.5 cm long. Capsules 1.2 cm long,
claviform, glabrous; seeds 4, brown, lenticular,
3-4 mm long.
Phenology: Flowering from December to July
and fruiting from April to July.
Status: Native, common.
Distribution: In coastal thickets and in the
zone of mogotes. Also on Vieques, Cayo Icacos,
Buck Island, St. John, St. Croix, St. Thomas,
Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; the Bahamas, Cuba,
Hispaniola, and the Lesser Antilles.
Public forests: Guajataca, Guánica, Maricao,
Piñones, Río Abajo, and Susúa.