Paullinia plumieri Triana & Planch.

  • 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

    Sapindaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Paullinia plumieri Triana & Planch.

  • Description

    Description - Woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 3-7 m in length. Stems cylindrical, tomentose or tomentulose, up to 0.5 cm in diameter; cross section simple (with a single vascular cylinder). Leaves alternate, biternate; leaflets chartaceous, the margins serrate, revolute; upper surface glabrous, puberulent on the midvein; lower surface with prominent venation and puberulent, with a tuft of hairs in the axils of the secondary veins, the tertiary venation dark, in the form of lines, sometimes with glandular papillae; terminal leaflets 4-9 x 2-3 cm, lanceolate or ovate, the apex obtuse or acuminate, the acumen obtuse, the base long-attenuate; lateral leaflets 2.5-5 x 1.2-2.2 cm. oblong, the apex obtuse or acute, the base obtuse or rounded; rachis narrowly winged, 1-3.2 cm long; petioles not winged, 1-5.5 cm long; stipules triangular, 1-2 mm long; tendrils in pairs, spirally twisted, at the end of short axillary axes, from which an inflorescence usually develops. inflorescences of axillary thyrses, with numerous pedicellate flowers, zygomorphic, in lateral cincinni; axes tomentose. Calyx densely tomentose, of 4 sepals, 2.5-3.5 mm long; petals white, obovate, ca. 3.5 mm long; petaliferous appendages slightly shorter than the petals, fleshy and yellow at the apex; ovary tomentose. Capsule three-winged, elliptical or obovate in outline, red, pubescent, 1.7-2 cm long. Seeds one per locule, black, elliptic-trigonal, ca. 6 mm long, with a white and emarginate aril at the base.

    Phenology - Collected in flower and fruit from February to April.

    Conservation Status - Apparently native, although uncommon.