Pisonia aculeata L.

Nyctaginaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:1. 1954

Morphology General Habit

Scandent shrub, to 30 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers cream.

Note

Local, and possibly introduced.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 10 - 1000 m.; Andes, Llanura del Caribe, Valle del Cauca.

Morphology General Habit

Arbusto, arbolito, liana

Conservation

No Evaluada

Nyctaginaceae, B. L. Stannard. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Large scandent shrubs, armed with recurved axillary spines (abortive shoots).

Morphology Trunk

Trunk attaining 150 cm. diam.

Morphology Stem

Stems slender, terete, spreading; younger shoots ferruginous pubescent to tomentose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate to subopposite, 1.5–5 × 1–3 cm., elliptic to more or less circular, obtuse-acuminate to rounded at apex, broadly attenuate to more or less rounded at base, glabrous to pubescent (sometimes concentrated along main veins), subcoriaceous; petioles 0.3–2 cm long, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, female laxer than male, branches densely pubescent to tomentose; pedicels much elongated in fruit; bracts 2–3(4), attached near base of perianth, 0.3–0.8 × 0.3–0.4 mm, ovate-oblong, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pale yellowish or greenish white, scented. Female flowers: 2–2.5 × 1.3–1.5 mm., perianth tubular to urceolate, 5 larger lobes alternating with 5 smaller ones, pubescent, 4–5 longitudinal rows of black glands developing as perianth matures; ovary 1.5–1.7 × 0.5–0.75 mm., elliptic-ovate, glabrous, 1-ovulate; style 0.5–0.8 mm. long, exserted; stigma multifid. Male flowers: perianth 2.5–3 mm. long, infundibuliform, pubescent, 5 larger lobes alternating with 5 smaller teeth, lobes triangular, spreading or recurved; stamens 6–8, exserted, 3.5–6 mm. long; filaments, 3–5.5 mm. long, filiform; anthers 0.5–0.6 mm. diam., orbicular.

sex Male

Male flowers: perianth 2.5–3 mm. long, infundibuliform, pubescent, 5 larger lobes alternating with 5 smaller teeth, lobes triangular, spreading or recurved; stamens 6–8, exserted, 3.5–6 mm. long; filaments, 3–5.5 mm. long, filiform; anthers 0.5–0.6 mm. diam., orbicular.

sex Female

Female flowers: 2–2.5 × 1.3–1.5 mm., perianth tubular to urceolate, 5 larger lobes alternating with 5 smaller ones, pubescent, 4–5 longitudinal rows of black glands developing as perianth matures; ovary 1.5–1.7 × 0.5–0.75 mm., elliptic-ovate, glabrous, 1-ovulate; style 0.5–0.8 mm. long, exserted; stigma multifid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Anthocarps 10–25 × 2–4 mm., 4–5-angled, 2–3 longitudinal rows of viscid stipitate glands along each angle, tomentellous to tomentose on flat surfaces between glands.

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

adorote, aruñagato, diente de perro, mancha mano, uña de gato, uña de perro

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/152910250/152910252

Conservation

LC - least concern

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

A deciduous scrambling shrub often climbing high in trees, armed with stout recurved spines; young twigs minutely puberulous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves rhombic-elliptic to ovate, long- petiolate, 3–15 cm long, the blades acute to acuminate at apex (rarely blunt or rounded), attenuate at base, glabrate or sparsely puberulous beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes axillary and terminal, compact, puberulous; flowers yellowish-green, fragrant

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Staminate perianth ca. 3.5 mm long, the pistillate shorter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Anthocarps ellipsoid or clavate, 8–15 mm long, 5-angled.

Distribution

Little Cayman, Cayman Brac. Pantropical, variable, uncommon in the Cayman Islands.

Ecology

It occurs in dense rocky virgin forest near the center of the island; in Cayman Brac, it grows in dense thickets along the base of cliffs.

Nyctaginaceae, Christopher Whitehouse. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1996

Morphology General Habit

Dioecious climber to 20 m. with paired axillary recurved thorns, 5–10 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or subopposite, elliptic, ovate or broadly ovate, to 10 cm. long, 7 cm. wide; petiole to 2.5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences dense axillary cymes, expanding in fruit; peduncles 1.5–3 cm. long; flowers cream to yellow, scented.

sex Male

Male flowers funnel-shaped, 5-lobed, ± 3 mm. long; stamens 6–8.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers campanulate to urceolate, 5-lobed, ± 2 mm. long; stigma fimbriate, exserted. Male flowers funnel-shaped, 5-lobed, ± 3 mm. long; stamens 6–8.

sex Female

Female flowers campanulate to urceolate, 5-lobed, ± 2 mm. long; stigma fimbriate, exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Anthocarps clavate, 8–27 mm. long, 2–2.5 mm. wide, ribbed; ribs with soft viscid, prickle-like glandular hairs.

Figures

Fig. 5.

Habitat

Forest and riverine thickets; 350–1650 m.

Distribution

widespread throughout the tropics K5 K7 T1 T2 T3 U2 U4