Tournefortia hirsutissima L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.

  • Family

    Boraginaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tournefortia hirsutissima L.

  • Description

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    Description - Twining liana or climbing shrub, 6-10 m in length. Stems woody, up to 2 cm in diameter, the bark somewhat corky, cream-colored, usually with persistent petioles; branches fragile, cylindrical, hirsute or tomentose, usually hollow in the center on drying. Leaves alternate; blades 12-22 x 2-11 cm, elliptical, oblong, or sometimes obovate, chartaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base acute, the margins entire, ciliate; upper surface dark, dull, hirsute, with the venation sunken; lower surface pale green, dull, hirsute, with prominent venation; petioles cylindrical, hispid. 10-12 mm long. Flowers numerous, fragrant, subsessile, in branched scorpioid cymes, corymbiform, terminal. Calyx green, crateriform. pubescent, of 5 lanceolate sepals, ca. 3 mm long; corolla white, hypocrateriform, 4-5 mm long, strigose outside. Drupe white, subglobose, 5-6 mm in diameter.

    Phenology - Flowering and fruiting from November to September.

    Conservation Status - Native, very common.

  • Common Names

    nigua, chiggernit, chiggernit grape, giniper