Cissus obovata Vahl
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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
Vitaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Slightly woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 3-15 m in length. Stems much branched, subcylindrical, angular, fleshy, 3-8 mm in diameter, glabrous or puberulent, reddish and then grayish, flexuous, with the nodes swollen. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate, chartaceous, glabrous or pubescent; leaflets obovate, almost rounded, or elliptical, 0.7-6 x 0.5-3.5 cm (the terminal leaflet larger), the apex rounded, obtuse, mucronate and sometimes retuse, the base cuneate to rounded, unequal on the lateral leaflets, the margins crenate or scattered-dentate on the distal portion; petioles 0.8-5 cm long; stipules deltoid, early deciduous; tendrils opposite the leaves, minute, bifurcate, with an adventitious disc at the end. Inflorescences of cymes, opposite the leaves, with the peduncles glabrous or puberulent, reddish; pedicels reddish. Calyx reddish, ca. 1 mm long. Petals 4, reddish, 1-2 mm long, triangular, deciduous. Fruits globose to globose-obovoid, 4-5 mm in diameter, black or purple when ripe. Seed one, ca. 5 mm long.
Phenology - Collected in flower in June and November and in fruit in July.
Conservation Status - Native, locally common.