Dorstenia contrajerva L.

  • Authority

    Berg, Cornelius C. 2001. Moreae, Artocarpeae, and (Moraceae): With introductions to the family and and with additions and corrections to Flora Neotropica Monograph 7. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 83: 1-346. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Moraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Dorstenia contrajerva L.

  • Type

    Lectotype, Berg, Fl. Guianas, Ser. A, Fasc. 11: 34. 1992. Plumier, Nov. Pl. Amer. 29, t. 8. 1703 (completed in Plumier, Pl. Amer. 1.119.1757).

  • Synonyms

    Dorstenia contrajerva var. houstonii (L.) Bureau, Dorstenia houstonii L., Dorstenia quadrangularis var. integrifolia Stokes, Dorstenia alexiteria L., Dorstenia quadrangularis var. sinuata Stokes, Dorstenia quadrangularis var. pinnatifida Stokes, Dorstenia palmata Willd. ex Schult., Dorstenia maculata Lem., Dorstenia contrajerva subsp. tenuiloba S.F.Blake, Dorstenia quadrangularis Stokes, Dorstenia contrajerva var. maculata (Lem.) Bureau, Dorstenia contrajerva var. tenuiloba (S.F.Blake) Standl. & Steyerm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Herb, (sub)acaulescent; stem at least partly subterranean, 3-14 mm thick, puberulous to subglabrous; internodes usually short, sometimes to 2.5 cm long, in slender rhizomatous stems with all or some of the internodes long, the parts with short internodes ± tuberous. Leaves in spirals, rosulate or spaced; lamina broadly ovate to cordiform to subhastate, pinnately to subpalmately or subpedately, variously lobed to parted with 3-8 lobes at each side or subentire, 4-25 × 3.5-30 cm, chartaceous, sometimes variegated; apex (or apices) acute to subacuminate; base cordate to acute or often the lamina decurrent; margin crenate-dentate to subentire; upper surface hirtellous to subhirsute or strig(ill)ose, usually scabrous; lower surface mainly on the veins puberulous with patent to appresssed, uncinate, or straight hairs or also hispidulous, often scabridulous to scabrous; lateral veins 3-7 pairs, furcately branched, terminating in the margin; tertiary venation subscalariform to reticulate; petiole 3-20 cm long, puberulous with ± retrorse uncinate and straight hairs, or also hispidulous; stipules triangular to ovate, to 0.6 cm long, puberulous to hispidulous. Inflorescences green or with the margin purplish(-red); peduncle 530 cm long, densely to sparsely puberulous, mainly with ± retrorse uncinate hairs, or also hispidulous, the apex broadened into the receptacle; receptacle eccentrically attached, quadrangular to (or and) ± irregularly lobed in outline, (0.5-)1.5-3 cm diam., the outside puberulous, mainly with retrorse uncinate hairs, or also hispidulous, the fringe 0.5-2 mm broad, minutely puberulous; bracts in ca. 3 rows, on the margin, on the fringe, or also a few below the margin, appressed, semiorbicular to ovate, to 1(-1.5) mm long, puberulous to hispidulous; staminate flowers among the pistillate ones; tepals 2; with globose, conical and/or minute uncinate hairs, stamens 2; filaments as long as or (slightly) longer than the perianth; stigmas (almost) equal in length, 0.3-0.5 mm long, white. Endocarp body ca. 1.8-2 × 1.8-2 mm, tuberculate.

  • Discussion

    The species is very variable in the dimensions of the whole plant, leaves, and inflorescences, in the length of the internodes, in the shape of the receptacle, and in the shape of the leaves, these varying from entire to variously incised. It was not possible to relate some of the variation clearly to certain habitats or regions. Some collections placed in D. drakena show features transitional to those of D. contrajerva.

  • Distribution

    From Mexico to the West Indies and through Central America to Colombia and northern Venezuela (possibly extending to Guyana), also in southwestern Ecuador and in Peru (San Martín); in shade, usually in ± wet, sometimes in dry types of forest or scrub, often in rocky places, often on limestone, along water courses, also in secondary growth; to ca. 1500 m.

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