Pavonia punctata Urb.

  • Authority

    Fryxell, Paul A. 1999. Cavanilles (Malvaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 76: 1-284. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Malvaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pavonia punctata Urb.

  • Type

    Type. Haiti. Gonaïves, Mare à Collas, Jun 1899, Buch 182 (isotype, GH).

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrubs 1-2 m tall, the stems densely and minutely stellate-pubescent and sometimes with scattered 3-4-armed spicules. Leaf blades principally 3-lobed (or pentangular), sometimes unlobed, mostly 2.5-5 cm long, about as wide (or narrower if unlobed), basally cordate, serrate, acute, palmately 7(-9)-nerved, discolorous, the upper surface with scattered pubescence (the hairs stellate and bifurcate, the largest 0.5 mm diam.), the lower surface more densely pubescent with minute stellate hairs overlain with large 3-4armed spicules 1.5-2 mm diam.; petioles 1.5-4 cm long, with minute pubescence like stem and often with a few large 3-4-armed spicules in addition; stipules subulate, 1-3(-5) mm long, often reflexed. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils (sometimes aggregated terminally), the pedicels 1-4.5 cm long; involucellar bracts 6-7, nearly distinct, linear, 6-12 x 0.5-2 mm; calyx 6-15 mm long, stellate-pubescent, each lobe prominently 3(-7)-nerved; corolla 2-3.5 cm long, externally with scattered 3-armed spicules, orange-red; staminal column exserted (3.5-4 cm long), glabrous, the filaments 3-4 mm long; styles emergent from the column. Fruits ca. 7 mm diam., stellate-pubescent; mericarps carinate with a small apical wing, reticulate-veined, 5.5 mm high.

  • Discussion

    The prominently ribbed calyx is the distinctive feature of Pavonia punctata.

    The spicules that overlie the minute pubescence of the stem are sometimes stipitate, and the stipes are sometimes darkly pigmented. On older stems the spicules are often broken off, leaving only the dark stipes, which could have been the origin of the specific epithet punctata, although Urban specifically refers to punctae on the lower leaf surface, which are not evident to me.

  • Distribution

    From Hispaniola and Cuba, although previously thought to be confined to Hispaniola, growing in thickets at 100-1300 m elevation. The type locality is at 19°28'N, 72°44'W.

    Cuba South America| Piñar del Río Cuba South America| Haiti South America| Dominican Republic South America| Azua Dominican Republic South America| Independencia Dominican Republic South America|