Paullinia pinnata 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

    Sapindaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Paullinia pinnata L.

  • Description

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    Description - Woody vine that climbs by means of tendrils and attains 6-10 m in length. Stems obtuse, 3-5-angular, glabrous or pubescent on the young portions, glabrescent when mature, up to 6 cm in diameter and producing scarce milky latex when cut; bark smooth, light brown; cross section with a central vascular cylinder and 2 or 3 peripheral vascular cylinders, smaller than the central one. Leaves alternate, pinnately 5-foliolate; leaflets coriaceous, 5-16 x 2.2-6 cm (the distal leaflet larger), elliptical, ovate, or lanceolate, the apex acute, the base attenuate or acute on the terminal leaflet and obtuse or rounded and sometimes asymmetrical on the lateral ones, the margins deeply serrate; upper surface glabrous or puberulent along the midvein, green, shiny, with slightly prominent venation; lower surface glabrous or puberulent along the midvein, green, dull, the venation prominent, with a tuft of hairs in the axils of the secondary veins; rachis and petioles broadly winged; stipules subulate, ca. 5 mm long; tendrils in pairs, spirally twisted, at the end of short axillary axes, from which an inflorescence usually develops. Flowers zygomorphic, in axillary racemiform thyrses; axis of the inflorescence tomentose. Calyx light green, puberulent, of 5 sepals, the two outer ones ca. 2 mm long, the inner ones 4-5 mm long; petals white, obovate, 4-5 mm long; petaliferous appendages slightly shorter than the petals, fleshy and yellow at the apex, forming a hood that encloses the glands of the disc; disc unilateral, with 4 rounded to ovoid glands. Capsule pyriform, not winged, red, 1.5-3 cm long. Seeds 12-15 mm long, ellipsoid, with a white aril, covering the base and more than half of the two sides.

    Phenology - Flowering from April to November and fruiting from October to July.

    Conservation Status - Native, rather common.

  • Common Names

    bejuco de costilla, bejuco de paloma, basket wiss