Serjania communis Cambess.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 1993. Systematics of Serjania (Sapindaceae) Part I: A Revision of Serjania Sect. Platycoccus. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 67: 1-91.

  • Family

    Sapindaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Serjania communis Cambess.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, s.d. (fl, fr), St. Hilaire cat. D 810 (holotype, P; isotype, MPU, n.v.; photo NY from MPU).

  • Description

    Species Description - Semi-woody climber to 15 m long. Stems slender (less than 1 cm in diameter), obtusely or sharply 3 or 5-angular, with three major ribs, stems fermginous-tomentose, especiaUy on main ribs, or glabrescent; cross section witii large, central, subterete or obtusely 5-angled stele and three smaller, subterete, elliptic or laterally compressed, peripheral steles. Stipules deltoid or subulate, 0.5-1.5 mm long, with same indument as stem. Leaves biternate; petioles not winged, sub-terete or angular, adaxially furrowed, 1.7-4.5 cm. long, densely to sparsely tomentose; main rachis sub-terete, margined, or narrowly winged, adaxially furrowed, 1-4 cm long, densely to sparsely tomentose; secondary rachises sub-terete, adaxially furrowed, 1-3.3 cm long, densely to sparsely tomentose; leaflets chattaceous, acute or long acuminate (less often obtuse) and mucronate at apex, the terminal leaflet larger, 3-7.5(-11) X 1.7-3(-5) cm, elliptic, narrow elliptic, ovate, lanceolate, rhombic, or less often trilobate, with attenuate or cuneate base, sometimes tapering into more or less prolonged petiolule, the lateral leaflets 2-5 x (0.5-) 1.4-2.7 cm, oblong, elliptic, or lanceolate, with obtuse (or raiely obcordate) and obUque base, sessile or petiolulate, the upper surface glabrous or sparsely covered with 0.7-1.5 mm long, yellowish, inflexed or erect hairs with swollen bases and glandular hairs, especially on veins, tiie lower surface lighter, sparsely covered witii same indument as upper surface, especially on veins, or glabrescent, the margins ciUate, acutely or obtusely serrate, the teetii clear glandular, the veins mixed craspedodromus, the primary vein slightly prominent on abaxial surface. Inflorescence longer than subtending leaf; axis 4-angular, 3-6.4(-12.5) cm long, densely fermginous tomentose, especially on angles, or glabrous; rachis 4.5-9.3(-12.5) cm long, subterete or angular, furrowed, densely feruginous tomentose; bracts and bracteoles subulate, 1.2-1.5 mm long, densely fermginous tomentose, with glandular haiis on margins; cincinni (-drepania) alternate, opposite, or whorled, the peduncle 0.5-1 cm long, with same indument as rachis, 4-5-flowered, the pedicels 1.7-3(-4) cm long, slightly flattened, densely fermginous tomentose, articulate at 1 mm or less from base, with a bracteole at base. Flowers with sepalsobtuse at apex, minutely ciliate at margins, abaxially covered with whitish, woolly hairs, the outer sepals ovate, (1.5-)2-3(-3.5) mm long, the inner sepals 3-5 mm long, elliptic or ovate, the third and fifth 3/4 to completely connate; petals white or Slight yellow, spatulate orobovate, clawed, rounded atapex, (4-)4.5-6(-6.5) mm long, densely to sparsely papillose on adaxial surface, die appendages ca. 3.5-5 mm long, with densely hairy margins, the central ones hood-shaped with fleshy, crown-shaped apex, the lateral ones not fleshy, asymmetric, with outer side bent over disk glands; disk with two central glands, ovate or subuate rounded in outUne, pericUnally flattened, ca. 0.5-1 mm long, tiie lateral glands obsolete; torus enlarged; filaments flattened, densely covered with inflexed, white, 0.2 mm long hairs, the anthers 0.5-0.6 mm long, ovary obovate in outline, densely covered with whitish, inflexed hairs 0.2 mm long, the style with same indument as ovary, the stigmas papillose. Fruits 2.5-3 cm long, widest at base, notched at apex, subcordate or tmncate at base; locule slightly prominent, not crested, with slightly prominent, reticulate vein network; wing glabrous or with short, yellowish hairs with swollen bases, outline not constricted below locule; the partitioning walls to 2 mm wide. Seeds lenticular, light brown, ca. 5 mm long; embryo with straight cotyledons.

  • Discussion

    Field observations. The stems of S. communis produce a watery exudate (not milky) when cut and the inflorescences are pendulous. The name communis refers to the common occurrence or wide distribution of this species.

  • Common Names

    Timbo miudo

  • Distribution

    Distribution and Phenology. Serjania communis is the most polymorphic and widely distributed of all species of 5. sect Platycoccus. It occurs in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia and has been collected in savaimas, restingas, dense humid forests, dry scmblands, gallery forests, and in open areas such as forest margins, road margins, and from secondary vegetation. It is found from sea level to secondary vegetation. It is found from sea level to year-round.

    Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Brazil South America| Bolivia South America|