Mimosa casta 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

    Mimosaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Mimosa casta L.

  • Description

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    Description - Woody vine, climbing, scarcely branched, that supports itself on other plants by means of spines which are borne along the length of its stems and petioles, and attaining 1-2 m in length. Stems angular, glabrous, with numerous recurved spines. Leaves alternate, bipinnate, with a single pair of pinnae; leaflets 3-4 pairs, elliptical to oblong-lanceolate, 1-3 x 0.5-1.5 cm, the apex acute, the base asymmetrical, one side attenuate, the other rounded, the margins ciliate; upper surface glabrous; lower surface sparsely sericeous, with prominent venation: petioles up to 10 cm long, with numerous recurved spines, pulvinate at the base; stipules subulate, ca. 5 mm long. Inflorescences of globose heads, axillary; peduncle 5-15 mm long. Calyx ca. 0.2 mm long, glabrous; corolla white, infundibuliiform 1-2 mm long, glabrous, with 4 lobes; stamens 4, the filaments free, ca. 1 cm long. Legume flattened, oblong, 3-4 x ca. 1.2 cm, glabrous, with 4-5 articulations, the margin with recurved spines.

    Phenology - Collected in flower and fruit in January and February.

    Conservation Status - Exotic, adventive, apparently a recent introduction, locally common.

  • Common Names

    zarza