Serjania
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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 - Lianas or herbaceous vines, climbing by means of tendrils, usually with milky latex. Stems simple or compound (cross section with a single vascular cylinder or with several vascular cylinders). Leaves alternate, trifoliolate, pinnately 5-foIiolate, biternate, or triternate; leaflets chartaceous or coriaceous; rachis and petioles winged or not winged; stipules minute and caducous. Tendrils spirally twisted, in pairs at the base of the axis of the inflorescence (this sometimes not developed). Inflorescence of axillary thyrses, with flowers grouped in lateral scorpioid cymes; pedicels articulated at the base; calyx of 4 or 5 sepals. Petals 4, with a petaliferous appendage on its inner surface; disc floral unilateral, with 2 or 4 glands; stamens 8. with unequal filaments; ovary superior, of 3 carpels, the style simple, branched in 3 elongate stigmas. Fruit a schizocarp that separates into three samaroid mericarps, the seminiferous portion distal and the wing proximal. Seed globose or ellipsoid, with a triangular or rounded scar at the base. A neotropical genus of 230 species, the majority of savannas, thickets, and open areas.