Monographs Details:
Authority:
Acevedo-RodrÃguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
Acevedo-RodrÃguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
Family:
Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
Description:
Species Description - Twining liana or scandent shrub, to 10 m long; stems cylindrical, glabrous, with scattered lenticels. Leaves opposite; blades 4- 10 X 2-4.7 cm, elliptic, oblong or rarely ovate, coriaceous, glabrous, with marked reticulate venation, the apex shortly acuminate, obtuse or rounded, the base obtuse or rounded, without glands, abruptly attenuate into the petiole, the margins entire; petioles 0.6-1.5 cm long; stipules minute and interpetiolar. Rowers produced in terminal long-peduncled cymes. Calyx bell-shaped, with 5 deeply parted, ovate sepals, 0.5-1.5 cm long; corolla funnel-shaped, light violet externally, 4-6 cm long, the lobes 1- 2 cm long, spreading, the tube whitish within; corona of 5 filiform appendages; stamens inserted near the corolla base, the filaments short and free, the anthers connivent around the stigma. Fruit with 2 divergent, narrowly winged or keeled boat-shaped, woody follicles, 10-13 cm long, slightly wrinkled and straw-colored at maturity. Seeds numerous, brown, tear-shaped, with a long tuft of hairs at apex.
Distribution and Ecology - This aggressive exotic species was introduced on St. John in the 1950s as an ornamental. The plant has naturalized and is now well established on the island, and its range continues to expand. It is particularly abundant at Coral Bay (A4681) and at Lameshur. Also on Tortola; native to Africa, introduced into the West Indies.
Species Description - Twining liana or scandent shrub, to 10 m long; stems cylindrical, glabrous, with scattered lenticels. Leaves opposite; blades 4- 10 X 2-4.7 cm, elliptic, oblong or rarely ovate, coriaceous, glabrous, with marked reticulate venation, the apex shortly acuminate, obtuse or rounded, the base obtuse or rounded, without glands, abruptly attenuate into the petiole, the margins entire; petioles 0.6-1.5 cm long; stipules minute and interpetiolar. Rowers produced in terminal long-peduncled cymes. Calyx bell-shaped, with 5 deeply parted, ovate sepals, 0.5-1.5 cm long; corolla funnel-shaped, light violet externally, 4-6 cm long, the lobes 1- 2 cm long, spreading, the tube whitish within; corona of 5 filiform appendages; stamens inserted near the corolla base, the filaments short and free, the anthers connivent around the stigma. Fruit with 2 divergent, narrowly winged or keeled boat-shaped, woody follicles, 10-13 cm long, slightly wrinkled and straw-colored at maturity. Seeds numerous, brown, tear-shaped, with a long tuft of hairs at apex.
Distribution and Ecology - This aggressive exotic species was introduced on St. John in the 1950s as an ornamental. The plant has naturalized and is now well established on the island, and its range continues to expand. It is particularly abundant at Coral Bay (A4681) and at Lameshur. Also on Tortola; native to Africa, introduced into the West Indies.
Discussion:
Common names: purple allamanda, rubber vine