Turbina corymbosa (L.) Raf.
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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
Convolvulaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Woody vine, twining, much branched from the base, attaining 1 m or more in length, with scarce watery latex. Stems glabrous or pubescent, cylindrical when young, compressed, angular, or sulcate when mature, up to 3 cm in diameter, the bark grayish, with numerous dark lenticels; cross section of the stem polystelic, with peripheral vascular cylinders of different diameters. Leaves alternate; blades 3-10 x 2.7-5.5 cm, ovate, chartaceous, the apex acute, short-acuminate, or acuminate, the base cordiform, the margins entire, slightly undulate; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, glabrous, the venation flat; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous or puberulous, with a prominent midvein; petioles 1 .5-6 cm long, slender, cylindrical, glabrous. Flowers numerous in axillary corymbs. Calyx green, the sepals oblong, 10-12 mm long, coriaceous, acute at the apex; corolla 2.5-3 cm long, white, infundibuliform, the tube yellow internally, except for the dark violet base, the limb with 5 yellowish bands forming a stellate design; stamens white, not exserted, the anthers sagittate; stigmas white, globose, not exserted. Fruits indehiscent, ellipsoid to subovoid, crustaceous, 1-1.5 cm long, the sepals persistent, unequal, accrescent, woody. Seed one, ellipsoid to subglobose, 4-5 mm long, minutely pubescent, light brown.
Phenology - Flowering from the end of October to January and in May, and fruiting in January and February.
Conservation Status - Native, locally common.