Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands 79
Key to the species of Marsdenia
1a. Leaves with 5 or more minute glands on the portion adjacent to the petiole; corolla hypocrateriform
or campanulate, white ........................................................................................................................ 2
1b. Leaves with 2 acicular glands on the portion adjacent to the petiole; corolla rotate, purple-pink
..................................................................................................................... 3. M. woodburyana
2a. Leaves usually obovate; corolla campanulate, the tube ca. 3 mm long, the lobes ca. 5 mm long
............................................................................................................................ 1. M. elliptica
2b. Leaves elliptical; corolla hypocrateriform, the tube 2-2.5 cm long, the lobes ca. 1 cm long
..........................................................................................................................2. M. floribunda
1. Marsdenia elliptica Decne. in DC., Prodr. 8:
616. 1844.
Fig. 27. A-D
Slightly woody vine, twining, 3-5 m in length,
with abundant milky latex. Stems cylindrical,
glabrous, dark brown, with some scattered
lenticels. Leaves opposite; blades 5-13 × 2-6 cm,
obovate or less frequently elliptical or oblongelliptical,
coriaceous, glabrous, the venation not
prominent, the apex short-acuminate, the base
obtuse to rounded, the margins entire, revolute;
upper surface dull, with 5-10 minute, dark brown
glands on the portion adjacent to the petiole; lower
surface pale; petioles glabrous, 1-2 cm long.
Flowers 8-15, arranged in subaxillary cymes,
glabrous, shorter than the petiole; peduncles ca.
5 mm long; pedicels ca. 3 mm long. Calyx
crateriform, the sepals ovate, obtuse, ca. 3 mm
long, glabrous, ciliate on the margin; corolla
campanulate, white, ca. 8 mm long, glabrous,
short-tubular (ca. 3 mm) at the base, the lobes
ovate, obtuse, ca. 5 mm long; corona of simple,
subulate, erect, connivent segments; stigma
turbinate. Follicles fusiform, green, ca. 15 x 1 cm.
Phenology: Collected in flower in June and
in fruit in November.
Status: Endemic to Puerto Rico, very rare.
Distribution: Originally known from two
collections, the type collection, made by Wydler
(no. 308) in 1827 but without a specific locality,
and the second collection, made by Sintenis (no.
1452) in June of 1885 from Monte Jiménez in the
Sierra de Luquillo. Recently rediscovered in the
Río Abajo Forest, Monte Torresilla and in Sabana
Hoyos.
Public forests: El Yunque and Río Abajo.
Commentary: In sterile condition, this species
can be confused with Matelea variifolia;
nevertheless, Marsdenia elliptica is distinguished
by the presence of coriaceous leaves with 5-10
glands of various forms on the upper surface in
the portion where they join the petiole (vs.
membranaceous with 2 acicular glands in M.
variifolia).
2. Marsdenia floribunda (Brongn.) Schltr. in
Urb., Symb. Antill. 1: 275. 1899.
Fig. 27. E-H
BASIONYM: Stephanotis floribunda Brongn.
Estefanotis, Florador, Madagascar jasmine,
Wax plant
Woody vine, twining, 3-5 m in length, with
abundant milky latex. Stems cylindrical, glabrous,
striate, lenticellate. Leaves opposite; blades 5-12
× 2.2-3.5 cm, elliptical, coriaceous, glabrous, the
apex short-acuminate, the base rounded to
subcordiform, the margins entire, markedly
revolute; upper surface dull, with 5 minute,
conical glands, on the portion adjacent to the
petiole; lower surface pale green, dull, with a
prominent midvein; petioles 1-2 cm long,
glabrous; intrapetiolar stipules acicular, minute.
Flowers numerous, fragrant, in axillary umbels,
ascending; peduncle 2-2.5 cm long; pedicels 2.5-
3 cm long. Calyx crateriform to rotate, green, the
sepals oblong, obtuse, sometimes minutely ciliate,
glabrous; corolla white or cream-colored,
hypocrateriform, 2.5-5 cm long, glabrous, the
lobes oblong, obtuse, ca. 1 cm long; corona absent;