Pavonia communis A.St.-Hil.

  • Authority

    Fryxell, Paul A. 1999. Cavanilles (Malvaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 76: 1-284. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Malvaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pavonia communis A.St.-Hil.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: Near Poso Alto, St.-Hilaire 563 (holotype, P as photo CTES; isotypes, CTES, US-2).

  • Synonyms

    Pavonia regnelliana Miq., Pavonia canaminensis Rusby, Pavonia urticifolia C.Presl, Pavonia spinifex subsp. communis (A.St.-Hil.) Gürke

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrubs 1-2 m tall, sometimes scandent to 3 m, the stems stellate-pubescent, the hairs of variable size (i.e., heterotrichous). Leaf blades ovate, mostly 5-14 x 2-8 cm, truncate to subcordate, serrate, acute or acuminate, palmately 5-nerved, discolorous, sparsely to densely stellate-pubescent, more densely so beneath; petioles 0.3-2(-3) cm long; stipules filiform, 5-12 mm long. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils, the pedicels 0.5-5.5 cm long; involucellar bracts 5-7, linear-lanceolate, 7-12 x 1-2 mm, ciliate; calyx 6-11 mm long, ciliate; corolla 2-3.5 cm long, yellow, obscurely pubescent externally, bearded on margins of claw; staminal column 1 cm long, glabrous, the filaments 1-2 mm long; styles exserted from column for 5-6 mm, free for distal 2-3 mm. Fruits 8-10 mm diam., the mericarp body 7 mm long; mericarps strongly keeled, the keel retrorsely scabrid, rugose, 3-spined, the spines divergent, 3-6(-8) mm long, retrorsely barbed. Chromosome number, 2n = 112 (Krapovickas & Cristóbal, 1965, as P. spinifex).

  • Discussion

    Illustrations. Gottsberger (1972: figs. 14-16); Gürke (1892b: pl. 85, as P spinifex subsp, communis).

    A group of five yellow-flowered species of Pavonia subgen. Typhalea sect. Urenoideae have frequently been confused in previous literature. Because they are not juxtaposed in the key, their distinctions merit additional discussion. The five are P. communis, P. sepioides, P. sepium, P. spinifex, and P. uniflora. As is indicated in the key and in Table IV, P communis and P. spinifex are relatively large-flowered, and P. sepioides, P. sepium and P. uniflora are relatively small-flowered. P. spinifex may be distinguished by its broad, often cordate leaves, its usually exserted stigmas, and its Caribbean distribution. P. uniflora stands out for its narrow leaves, long mericarp spines, and Mexican distribution. The three South American species are distinguished by differences in corolla size, leaf size, and stem pubescence, P. communis having larger corollas, larger leaves, and denser pubescence than P sepioides or P sepium.

    Gottsberger (1972) describes bee-pollination in Pavonia communis, as well as the floral phenology and other insect visitors.

  • Distribution

    Widely distributed in South America, from Peru to Uruguay and Argentina, in forest and shrubland, at 600-2500 m elevation. The type locality is at 22°12'S, 44°58'W; that for Pavonia regnelliana is at 21°55'S, 46°40'W; that for P. ulicifolia is at 31°40'S, 56°00'W.

    Peru South America| Amazonas Peru South America| Cajamarca Peru South America| Junín Peru South America| Brazil South America| Mato Grosso do Sul Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Rio Grande do Sul Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America| Santa Catarina Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Bolivia South America| La Paz Bolivia South America| Santa Cruz Bolivia South America| Paraguay South America| Amambay Paraguay South America| Caaguazú Paraguay South America| Canindeyú Paraguay South America| Guairá Paraguay South America| Paraguarí Paraguay South America| Argentina South America| Corrientes Argentina South America| Misiones Argentina South America| Uruguay South America| Rivera Uruguay South America|