Stigmaphyllon floribundum (DC.) C.E.Anderson

  • 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

    Malpighiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Stigmaphyllon floribundum (DC.) C.E.Anderson

  • Description

    Description - Woody vine, twining, attaining 15 m in length. Stems much branched from the base, cylindrical, attaining 2-3 cm in diameter; bark rough, reddish brown. Branches lenticellate, cylindrical, tomentose. Leaves opposite, yellowish or reddish when young, elliptical, oblong, linear, lanceolate, or rounded, 4-18 x 2.5-15.5 cm, coriaceous, the apex obtuse or truncate, emarginate-mucronate, the base obtuse, truncate to cordiform, the margins entire, revolute, ciliate; upper surface dark green, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; lower surface pale green, dull, densely appressed-pubescent or sericeous, the venation prominent; petioles cylindrical, ferruginous-pubescent, 1-2.5 cm long, with a pair of prominent discoid glands in the area adjacent to the blade; stipules triangular, minute. Inflorescences of terminal panicles, up to 22 cm long, composed of umbels or pseudoracemes, with 20-30(50) flowers; peduncles strigose; pedicels strigose, 1-3 cm long. Calyx of 5 rounded sepals, 2-2.7 mm long, strigose, four of them with a pair of glands outside at the base. Petals yellow, rounded, 11-15 mm long, unguiculate; stamens unequal; anterior style shorter, the stigmas green. Mericarps 1.8-3.2 cm long, strigose, especially the seminiferous portion, with a rudimentary apical wing and a well developed dorsal wing, divaricate, more or less oblong, with the upper margin curved.

    Phenology - Flowering throughout the year and fruiting sporadically.

    Conservation Status - Endemic to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, rather common.

  • Common Names

    bejuco de toro, bejuco de menta, bull wiss, red wiss