Rajania cordata L.
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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
Dioscoreaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Non-woody vine, climbing, twining, glabrous, attaining 3-10 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, strong, glabrous. Leaves alternate, glabrous, 4-11.5(20) x 2-6.5(12) cm, 5-9-veined, coriaceous or less frequently chartaceous. ovate, lanceolate, or less frequently hastate, the apex acute or acuminate, the base cordiform to almost truncate; upper surface slightly shiny, with the venation flat or slightly prominent; lower surface with prominent venation; petioles 2-7 cm long, cylindrical, pulvinate at the base. Inflorescences axillary, racemose, pendulous or ascendant. Staminate inflorescences solitary or fasciculate, 4-25 cm long, the flowers grouped in lateral cymes, the cymes stipitate, I -3 per node; flowers with the perianth white or cream-colored, 0.9-1.1 mm long, the stamens 6. Pistillate inflorescences 4-30 cm long, with solitary flowers distributed along the peduncle; flowers with the perianth 1-1.3 mm long, the hypanthium ca. 1.5 mm long. Fruits samaroid, (1.1)1.6-3.2 cm long, flattened, usually reddish or burgundy, with a wing in a lateral distal position.
Phenology - Flowering from July to March and fruiting from September to June.
Conservation Status - Native, rather common.
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Common Names
guáyaro, bejuco de guaraguao, ñame gulembo, white yam