Pristimera caribaea (Urb.) A.C.Sm.
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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
Hippocrateaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Woody vine, climbing, which supports itself on other plants by twining lateral branches and attains 10 m or more in length. Stems grayish, dark brown and lenticellate when mature. Leaves opposite; blades 6- 1 1 x 2-6 cm, elliptical or ovate-elliptical, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base acute to obtuse, the margins entire, denticulate or crenulate, the veins prominent on both surfaces. Flowers numerous, in dichasial cymes, dichotomous, axillary, 1.5-4 cm long; pedicels ca. 1 mm long. Calyx greenish yellow, of 5 triangular or broadly ovate sepals, 0.5-0.8 mm long, erose or ciliate-glandular at the margin; petals 5, elliptical or oblong, greenish yellow, 1.5-2.6 mm long; disc annular, 0.8-1.2 mm wide; stamens ca. 1 mm long; ovary glabrous, conical. Mericarps 3, compressed, elliptical, 3.5-5 cm long; seeds usually 4 per locule, ca. 1 .5 cm long, winged.
Phenology - Collected in flower from November to January.
Conservation Status - Native, locally common.
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Discussion
Hippocratea, Pristimera, and various genera have been considered as belonging to the Family Hippocrateaceae. Nevertheless, recent taxonomic evidence suggests that the Hippocrateaceae is an artificial group not distinguishable from the Celastraceae. For this reason, these have been added to the Celastraceae.