Rourea surinamensis Miq.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.

  • Family

    Connaraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Rourea surinamensis Miq.

  • Description

    Description - Woody vine, twining, attaining more than 20 m in length. Stems strong, flexible, grayish or brown, up to 2 cm in diameter; lateral branches short, twining like tendrils. Leaves alternate, pinnately compound or less frequently unifoliolate; leaflets 3 or 5, opposite or subopposite, 4-15 x 1.5-6.5 cm, elliptical, oblong, or ovate, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex acuminate, the base rounded (or in young plants cordiform), the margins entire, revolute; upper surface dark, shiny, with the midvein sunken, the secondary veins slightly prominent; lower surface pale green, dull, with the reticulate venation prominent; petioles 3-8 cm long, with the base swollen; petiolules swollen, ca. 5 mm long; stipules minute. Flowers numerous, in clustered, axillary panicles or racemes, 5-10 cm long. Calyx crateriform, 2.5-3 mm long, of 5 oblong sepals, ca. 2 mm long; petals white, spathulate, ca. 4 mm long, early deciduous; stamens 10, in two series, the filaments unequal, the anthers ellipsoid; gynoecium of 5 free carpels, pubescent, the style elongate, the stigma peltate or bilobed. Follicles ellipsoid, 1-1.5 cm long, reddish when mature; seeds black, with a white aril at the base.

    Phenology - Flowering from March to September and fruiting from December to April.

    Conservation Status - Native, rather common.

  • Common Names

    Juan Caliente, bejuco de garrote