Mikania fragilis Urb.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
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Family
Asteraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Herbaceous vine, twining, 6-8 m in length. Stems angular, with numerous lateral branches, pubescent when young, grayish with numerous lenticels when mature, the inner bark reddish, aromatic. Leaves opposite; blade 5-11 x 4-10 cm, broadly ovate, fragile, fleshy, slightly aromatic, not glandular, the apex acute, obtuse, or rounded, the base cordiform, the margins serrate, revolute; upper surface dark green, shiny, with the reticulate venation sunken, scabrid; lower surface pale green, dull, sometimes with some resinous dots, venation prominent; petioles thick, 2-4 cm long, pubescent, sulcate; pseudostipules broadly ovate. reflexed, 8-10 mm wide. Capitula few, pedunculate, in axillary corymbiform cymes; bracts of the involucre lanceolate to narrowly ovate, ca. 12 mm long, green to whitish; corollas white or with a reddish or greenish tinge, infundibuliform; anthers violet, connate, exserted. Achenes cuneiform, ca. 3.5 mm long, with 5 longitudinal ribs, glabrous; pappus of numerous bristles, 7-8 mm long.
Phenology - Flowering from September to April.
Conservation Status - Endemic to Puerto Rico, rather common.
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Common Names
guaco redondo