Monographs Details:
Authority:
Acevedo-RodrÃguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
Acevedo-RodrÃguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
Family:
Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Description:
Description - Slightly woody vine that climbs by axillary tendrils and attains 10 m or more in length. Stems green, subcylindrical, glabrous, striate when young, with numerous pendulous lateral branches; tendrils simple or bifurcate, up to 16 cm long. Leaves alternate; blades entire, 8-16 x 4-12 cm, ovate or pentagonal, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex acuminate, the base cordiform, the margins revolute, entire or denticulate; upper surface dark green, shiny; lower surface light green, dull, the venation palmate, prominent; petioles usually curved, sulcate, glabrous, 4-6 cm long. Staminate and pistillate flowers similar, in axillary panicles, 20-60 cm long; pedicels ca. 8 mm long. Calyx crateriform, puberulous, the sepals ovate, ca. 2 mm long; corolla yellow-pink, rotate, the limb ca. 1 cm in diameter, with rounded lobes; stamens 5, ca. 1.5 mm long; ovary globose, puberulous. Fruit subglobose, green, 8-12 cm in diameter, operculate, with three sutures united in the distal portion, the pericarp subwoody; seeds few, compressed, subcircular, 3-6 cm in diameter, cream-colored.
Phenology - Flowering from February to September and fruiting from June to September. The seeds are dispersed by water currents and are frequently found on river banks and beaches.
Conservation Status - Native, locally common.
Description - Slightly woody vine that climbs by axillary tendrils and attains 10 m or more in length. Stems green, subcylindrical, glabrous, striate when young, with numerous pendulous lateral branches; tendrils simple or bifurcate, up to 16 cm long. Leaves alternate; blades entire, 8-16 x 4-12 cm, ovate or pentagonal, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex acuminate, the base cordiform, the margins revolute, entire or denticulate; upper surface dark green, shiny; lower surface light green, dull, the venation palmate, prominent; petioles usually curved, sulcate, glabrous, 4-6 cm long. Staminate and pistillate flowers similar, in axillary panicles, 20-60 cm long; pedicels ca. 8 mm long. Calyx crateriform, puberulous, the sepals ovate, ca. 2 mm long; corolla yellow-pink, rotate, the limb ca. 1 cm in diameter, with rounded lobes; stamens 5, ca. 1.5 mm long; ovary globose, puberulous. Fruit subglobose, green, 8-12 cm in diameter, operculate, with three sutures united in the distal portion, the pericarp subwoody; seeds few, compressed, subcircular, 3-6 cm in diameter, cream-colored.
Phenology - Flowering from February to September and fruiting from June to September. The seeds are dispersed by water currents and are frequently found on river banks and beaches.
Conservation Status - Native, locally common.
Common Names:
pepita amarga, uyama, secua
pepita amarga, uyama, secua