Paullinia fuscescens Kunth
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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
Sapindaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 3-7 m in length. Stems cylindrical. tomentose or tomentulose, up to 5 mm in diameter, with slight watery latex when cut; cross section simple (with a single vascular cylinder). Leaves alternate, biternate; leaflets chartaceous, the margins serrate, revolute; upper surface sparsely pubescent on the midvein, green, shiny; lower surface green, dull, the venation prominent and puberulent, with a tuft of hairs in the axils of the secondary veins, with glandular papillae; terminal leaflets 4-6 x 1.5-2.5 cm. lanceolate, the apex acuminate, the acumen obtuse, the base long-attenuate; lateral leaflets 1-2 x 0.7-1 cm, almost elliptical, the apex obtuse, the base acute or obtuse; rachis narrowly winged, 1-1.6 cm long; petioles not winged, 7-12 mm long; stipules triangular, ca. 1 mm long; tendrils in pairs, spirally twisted, at the end of short axillary axes, from which an inflorescence usually develops. Inflorescences of axillary racemiform thyrses, with few sessile flowers, zygomorphic, in lateral cincinni; axes tomentose. Calyx whitish green, of 5 sepals, 2-2.5 mm long; petals white, cuneate at the base, ca. 2 mm long; petaliferous appendages slightly shorter than the petals, fleshy and yellow at the apex, forming a hood that encloses the glands of the disc; stamens 8, the filaments unequal; ovary trilocular. Capsule three-winged, red, 1-1.5 cm long. Seeds one per locule, black, obovoid, slightly laterally compressed, ca. 6 mm long, with a white and emarginate aril on the lower half.
Phenology - Collected in flower and fruit during February and March.
Conservation Status - Exotic, naturalized, locally common on St. Croix.