Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb.
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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
Caesalpiniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Scandent shrub, much branched along the main stem, attaining 2-6 m in length. Stems cylindrical, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, densely spiny. Leaves bipinnate, paripinnate, 30-75 x 10-34 cm; pinnae 4-8 pairs, opposite; leaflets 3-7 pairs per pinna, opposite, 2.5-5(6.8) x 1.2-3 cm, ovate, lanceolate, oblong, or elliptical, chartaceous, glabrous or puberulent, the apex obtuse, mucronate, the base truncate, rounded to almost cordiform, the margins entire, revolute, filiate; upper surface dull; lower surface with the midvein prominent; petiolules short, cylindrical; petioles and raehis spiny; stipules foliaceous, up to 1.5 cm long, persistent, divided into 3-5 segments. Flowers functionally unisexual, in axillary or terminal racemes; raehis tomentose and densely spiny; bracts lanceolate, 8-14 mm long, persistent. Calyx campanulate, 4-6 mm long, tomentose, the sepals reflexed, oblong. Petals yellow, 5.5-8 mm long, spathulate; stamens 10, of which 4 are fertile in the staminate flowers, all sterile in the pistillate flowers; ovary sessile, rudimentary in the staminate flower, the stigma terminal. Legumes oblong, 4-7.5 x 2-4 cm, semi-inflated, densely spiny, tardily dehiscent along both sutures. Seeds usually 2, ovoid or almost globose, 1.5-2 cm long, gray.
Phenology - Flowering and fruiting from October to March.
Conservation Status - Native, rather common.
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Common Names
mato de playa