Monographs Details:
Authority:
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
Family:
Smilacaceae
Smilacaceae
Description:
Description - Slightly woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 5-10 m in length. Stems slender, strong, glabrous, smooth, scarcely branched. Leaves alternate, simple, chartaceous, 5-12(15) x 2-6.5 cm, ovate, oblong, elliptical, or broadly elliptical, usually involute, 5-veined, the apex acuminate, the base obtuse, rounded, or less frequently subcordate; the margins entire; upper surface shiny, glabrous; lower surface dull, glabrous, papillose, with prominent venation; petioles 1-1.5 cm long, articulated at the apex, forming a sheath at the base, from which two simple tendrils are borne, 8-12 cm long. Inflorescence axillary, umbelliform, solitary. Flowers greenish, fragrant. Staminate flowers with pedicels 5-9 mm long; tepals elliptical, 3-3.5 mm long. Fruit globose, fleshy, ca. 1 cm in diameter, dark violet or almost black, with a single seed inside.
Phenology - Flowering from May to August and fruiting from December to February.
Conservation Status - Native, rather common.
Description - Slightly woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 5-10 m in length. Stems slender, strong, glabrous, smooth, scarcely branched. Leaves alternate, simple, chartaceous, 5-12(15) x 2-6.5 cm, ovate, oblong, elliptical, or broadly elliptical, usually involute, 5-veined, the apex acuminate, the base obtuse, rounded, or less frequently subcordate; the margins entire; upper surface shiny, glabrous; lower surface dull, glabrous, papillose, with prominent venation; petioles 1-1.5 cm long, articulated at the apex, forming a sheath at the base, from which two simple tendrils are borne, 8-12 cm long. Inflorescence axillary, umbelliform, solitary. Flowers greenish, fragrant. Staminate flowers with pedicels 5-9 mm long; tepals elliptical, 3-3.5 mm long. Fruit globose, fleshy, ca. 1 cm in diameter, dark violet or almost black, with a single seed inside.
Phenology - Flowering from May to August and fruiting from December to February.
Conservation Status - Native, rather common.
Common Names:
bejuco de membrillo, raíz de zarzaparilla, zarzaparilla
bejuco de membrillo, raíz de zarzaparilla, zarzaparilla