Cissampelos pareira L.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Menispermaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Twining vine to 5 m long; stems cylindrical, glabrous to pilose. Leaf blades 4-12 X 4-10 cm, widely ovate to nearly rounded chartaceous, lower surface sparsely to densely pubescent, the apex emarginate, usually mucronulate, the base cordate or truncate, usually peltate, the margins wavy and revolute; petioles sparsely to densely pubescent, 2-7 cm long. Rowers 1-15 mm long, greenish, in axillary cymes. Calyx pilose; bracts of pistillate inflorescence foliaceous, ovate, pilose. Drupe globose, juicy, bright red-orange, pilose, 4-5 mm diam.; Stone horseshoe-shaped, verrucose.
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Discussion
Common names: pataka, velvet leaf.
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Distribution
A common weedy vine of open distrubed, moist areas or secondary forests. Road to Bordeaux (A3126), trail to Brown Bay (A1868). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola; throughout the tropics.
Saint John Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|