Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A.H.Gentry
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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
Bignoniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Woody vine, which climbs by tendrils and attains 10-15 m in length. Stems cylindrical, lenticellate, up to 6 cm in diameter; cross section of the mature stem with multilobed xylem, the lobes alternating with radially arranged phloem tissue; nodes thickened; interpetiolar zone not glandular. Pseudostipules ovate, ca. 5 mm long. Leaves opposite, 2-foliolate, with a terminal tendril, trifid like a claw, generally of short duration; leaflets 6-16 x 1.2-7 cm, elliptical, oblong, or obovate, chartaceous or coriaceous, glabrous or with punctiform scales, the apex acute or acuminate, the base acute, rounded, or unequal, the margins undulate or rarely denticulate; upper surface dark, shiny, with sunken venation; lower surface light green, dull, with prominent venation; petioles 1 -4.5 cm long, petiolules 0.5-2.5 cm long, both glabrous. Flowers solitary or in pairs, axillary; pedicel ca. 2 cm long. Calyx green, campanulate, 12-16 mm long, with 5 unequal lobes; corolla brilliant yellow, infundibuliform, 4-8 cm long, the limb 3-6 cm in diameter, with 5 unequal lobes, rounded: stamens 4. didynamous. inserted; ovary covered with punctiform scales. Capsule linear, somewhat woody, brown, 25-95 em long: seeds numerous. 1-3.5 cm long, with 2 membranaceous wings.
Phenology - Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Conservation Status - Native, very common.
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Common Names
una de gato, liana uñada, cat-claw