Diagnostic description ⁵

Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A. H. Gentry, Brittonia 25: 236. 1973.

Fig. 3. D; 45. A-C

Basionym: Bignonia unguis-cati L.

Synonyms: Batocydia unguis (L.) Dc.

Doxantha unguis-cati (L.) Miers

Woody vine, which climbs by tendrils and attains 10-15 m in length. Stems cylindrical, lenticellate, up to 6 cm in diameter; cross section of the mature stem with multilobed xylem, the lobes alternating with radially arranged phloem tissue; nodes thickened; interpetiolar zone not glandular. Pseudostipules ovate, ca. 5 mm long. Leaves opposite, 2-foliolate, with a terminal tendril, trifid like a claw, generally of short duration; leaflets 6-16 × 1.2-7 cm, elliptical, oblong, or obovate, chartaceous or coriaceous, glabrous or with punctiform scales, the apex acute or acuminate, the base acute, rounded, or unequal, the margins undulate or rarely denticulate; upper surface dark, shiny, with sunken venation; lower surface light green, dull, with prominent venation; petioles 1-4.5 cm long, petiolules 0.5-2.5 cm long, both glabrous. Flowers solitary or in pairs, axillary; pedicel ca. 2 cm long. Calyx green, campanulate, 12-16 mm long, with 5 unequal lobes; corolla brilliant yellow, infundibuliform, 4-8 cm long, the limb 3-6 cm in diameter, with 5 unequal lobes, rounded; stamens 4, didynamous, inserted; ovary covered with punctiform scales. Capsule linear, somewhat woody, brown, 25-95 cm long; seeds numerous, 1-3.5 cm long, with 2 membranaceous wings.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2110; 2803; 3958; 9352; 11272; Axelrod, F. 4740; Britton, N.L. 66; Heller, A.A. 1233; Howard, R.A. 15754; Sargent, F.H. 74; Shafer, J.A. 2001; 2349; Sintenis, P. 550; 862; 1242; 1285; 1415; 3270; 5000; Underwood, L.M. 371; 782; Stevenson, J.A. 1757.

Distribution ⁶

Distribution: In moist forests at middle and lower elevations, from the coast to the Cordillera Central. Also on Culebra, Desecheo, Vieques, St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; throughout the Antilles and tropical and subtropical America.

Public forest: Cambalache, Ceiba, Desecheo, El Yunque, Guánica, Maricao, Río Abajo, Susúa, Toro Negro, and Vega.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Forest & Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/53487.jpg
2. (c) Forest & Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/53486.jpg
3. (c) Forest & Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/54872.jpg
4. <a href="http://nt.ars-grin.gov/">ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory</a>. Australia., no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://plants.usda.gov/gallery/large/maun3_001_lhp.jpg
5. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435164
6. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435716

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