Serjania pyramidata
Content
Description
Woody vine 2-15(30) m long, producing milky sapStems terete, 8-to 10-striate, tomentulose or puberulent, glabrescent, reaching 10 cm diam. at base; young branches reddish; cross section with a central, large, round peripheral cylinder surrounded by 10 smaller rounded cylinders. Stipules deltate, inconspicuous. Leaves biternate; petiole and rachis canaliculate, unwinged, tomentulose or pilose, slender; leaflets chartaceous, sparsely pilose to glabrous, long-acuminate to cuspidate at apex, (3)4.5-12 × (1.6)2.7-6(7) cm, the margins repando serrate, usually on distal portion of blade; distal leaflets ovate or less often elliptic with cuneate or attenuate base; lateral leaflets oblong, elliptic to nearly lanceolate, with obtuse to rounded base. Thyrses axillary or distal, racemiform or less often paniculate, 15-35 cm long, with tomentose or tomentulose axes; cincinni tomentulose, alternate, sessile, < 5 mm long; bracts and bracteoles subulate, ca. 1 mm long, overlapping. Flowers 3-6 per cincinni; pedicels 2.5-5 mm long, tomentose or tomentulose, articulate on lower third; sepals 5, white, tomentulose, 1.5-2(4) mm long, ovate or oblong, rounded at apex; petals white, spatulate, ca. 2.5 mm long, adaxially papillate; appendages with fleshy, yellow crest; disc of 4ovoid lobes; stamens sparsely pubescent. Mericarps 2.3-2.7 cm long, glabrous, reddish tinged, the cocci lenticular to nearly globose, slightly carinate, much narrower than the wing
Distribution
Guianas present, Northern America, Southern America: Bolivia (Bolivia present); Colombia (Colombia present); Panamá (Panamá present); Venezuela (Venezuela present)
A wide spread species, known from Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, and Bolivia (GU: 6; SU: 6; FG: 12).