Securidaca virgata Sw.
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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
Polygalaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Woody vine, twining, with pendulous branches, attaining 5-10 m in length. Stems cylindrical, puberulent, slightly flattened when mature; cross section with bands of vascular tissue alternating with bands of parenchyma. Leaves alternate, 1-2 cm long, obovate or oblong, minutely strigulose, the apex rounded, retuse, the base cuneate or obtuse, the margins entire, revolute, the venation inconspicuous on both surfaces; petioles ca. 1 mm long, strigulose. Inflorescences of terminal racemes; pedicels ca. 6 mm long, minutely sericeous; calyx of 5 sepals, unequal, the 3 outer ones 2-4 mm long, pink, rounded, strigulose, the inner ones petaloid, 8-12 mm long, pink, rounded; keel white, ca. 8 mm long, the upper petals yellow, fleshy, slightly shorter than the keel. Samara 3-4 cm long, minutely sericeous, especially the seminiferous locule, the wing with reticulate venation, 2-3 x 1 cm.
Phenology - Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Conservation Status - Native, very common.
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Common Names
bejuco de sopla, jaboncillo