SIMAROUBACEAE 33. Fruit leathery
NUMBER 77 NUMBER 77 MALPIGHIACEAE 137
Byrsonima coriacea var. spicata (Cavanilles) Niedenzu in Engler, 1928, IV.141 (Heft 94):700.
Bois tan.
Tree 5-11 m; leaves narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, puberulent below, -4 cm x 12 cm; petals yellow to orange;
interior surface of anther connective pubescent with a few long, appressed hairs, the anther sacs glabrous; fruits orange.
Antilles (except Jamaica) and South America; a widespread species in Dominica in mesophytic habitats including wind- ward coastal thickets: below Syndicate to Marigot (Chambers 2621, Hodge 3163, Nicolson 1908, Wasshausen & Ayensu 364, Whitefoord 4311, Wilbur 7626, 8310), east coast, including Carib Reserve (Ernst 1362, Hodge 3904, Nicolson 4129, Taylor 14), south from Grand Bay to Scotts Head (Taylor 13, Webster 13445, Wilbur 8006), interior, near Imperial road (Narodny 2, Skog 1577), cultivated Roseau Botanic Garden (Hodge 928). A spectacular show when flowering in May- June.
The bark is used for tanning and hunting potions (Hodge and Taylor, 1957570).
It is of biological interest to note that this mesophytic yellow-flowered, large-leaved species can hybridize with the xerophytic, white- to pink-flowered, small-leaved species B.
lucida. A collection (Stern & Wasshausen 2444) from Grand Savanne (where B. lucida is common) is quite intermediate in leaf characters. The leaves are obovate (as B. lucida) but much larger (-3 cm x 7 cm) than B. lucida and smaller than B.
spicata. The flowers are yellow (as B. spicata). At first glance one might think this was B. trinitensis, but the flower color and habitat are wrong and the stamens do not have the distinctive prolonged connective of B. trinitensis. Anderson (ms.) reported most pollen grains were not stainable, implying a sterile hybrid between these quite unrelated species. Hybrids between these species are postulated in Puerto Rico (Little et al., 1974:366) and were named as species B. ophiticola and B. horneana).
Byrsonima hinitensis
Byrsonima trinitensis Adr. Jussieu. 1840334.
Byrsonima martinicensis Krug & Urban ex Duss, 1897:lll.
Byrsonima crassifolia sensu Grisebach, 1860: 114. ncm (Linnaeus) Kunth.
Bois moricipre, mauricif, h i s du vin.
Tree 3-12 m; leaf blades elliptic, oblanceolate or obovate, 4.5-11.5 cm long, petioles 2-12 mm long; petals white to pink; mature fruits red.
Lesser Antilles; common in wet interior forests and montane thickets (lo0 m at La Chaudi5re is remarkable) in Dominica:
Boiling Lake (Hodge 19a)), Castle Bruce (Ramage s.n., Feb 1889), La Chaudiere (Hodge 3572), Morne Diablotins (Ni- colson 1924), Morne Micotrin to Laudat (Chambers 2740, Ernst 1099, Nicolson 1834, Wasshausen & Ayensu 328), within 5 miles [8 km] of Pont Casse (Ernst I670,1980A, 2087, Hodge 552, 553, 2978, Stern & Wasshausen 2543, Wilbur 7844), Syndicate (Whitefoord 4536). Flowering July-August at lower
elevations, October-November at higher elevations.
Williams (1947, 2:498) suggested that this species is conspecific with B . martinicensis. The small-leaved aspect with short (2-4 mm) petioles, referable to typical B. trinitensis, occurs in Dominica at higher elevations. The larger-leaved aspect with longer (5-12 mm) petioles, referable to typical B.
martinicensis, occurs at lower elevations.
According to Anderson (in Howard, 1988,4:607) the type is from Martinique and was mislabeled as “F1. Trinitatis”
(confusion with La Trinite of Martinique?). The similar Trinidad species is B. kariniana Anderson.
Grisebach (1860:114) cited an Imray collection from Dominica as Byrsonima crassifolia (Linnaeus) Kunth. An Imray collection (GOET) is sterile but the leaves are glabrous (unlike B. crassifolia), although material in the pocket (taken from a different collection?) is B. crassifolia. A specimen of Imray 332 (K) is clearly B. trinitensis. A flowering specimen of Imray 210 (GH) was annotated by Grisebach as “crassifolia var. glabrata” but has the prolonged staminal connectives of B.
trinitensis. The attribution of B. crassifolia to Dominica appears to be due to a misidentification of B. trinitensis.
Heteropteris Kunth, nom. cons.
Heteropteris purpurea (Linnaeus) Kunth, was reported for Dominica by Vtlez (1957: 103) as Banisteria purpurea Linnaeus on the authority of Stehlt. No specimens from Dominica have been seen, but it is possible that it could be found in very dry areas. It has pink flowers and small, oval leaves, which usually bear two small glands at or slightly below the middle of the petiole.
Heteropteh platyptera
Heteropterbplatyptera A.P. Candolle, 1824, 1 :592.-Macbride, 1934:ll.
Banisteria longifoh Swartz, 1788:75.
Heteropteris longifolia (Swam) Niedenw, 190353, non Kunth [= Heterop- Heteropteris tongifolia var. borealis Niedenzu, 190353.
Heteropteris longifolia var. martinicensb Niedenm, 1903 54.
Heteropteris platyptera var. martinicensb (Niedenzu) Macbride, 1934 12.
teris lawifolia (Linnaeus) Adr. Jussieu].
Corde caco, liane cacao, sec cacao.
Liana (or dense shrub); leaves glandular, glabrous, >15 cm long; flowers yellow, paniculate; carpels 3, Samaras 1-3, to 3 cm x 6 cm, the wings thickest at bottom, reddish at end.
Guadeloupe to St. Vincent; northern Dominica in mesic to wet woodlands to 600 m: western Slopes-Clarke Hall (Wasshausen & Ayensu 301), Milton (Hodge 2678), Sugar Loaf (Eggers 730, I062), Syndicate (Hodge 3832); northern and eastern slopes-calibishie (Hodge 3167), Carib Reserve (Hodge 3270, Stehle 6416), La Chaudiere (Hodge 3506); wet interior, within 5 miles [8 km] of Pont Casse (Beard 660, Ernst 1167, 1289, 1352, Hodge 551, 2983, 3473, Nicolson 4180, Webster 13392); sine loc. (Fishlock 23A, Imray 405). Flower- ing April to June and ftuits quickly maturing.
138 MALPIGHIACEAE-MALVACEAE SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY Used in various artifacts by Caribs (Hodge and Taylor,
1957570).
Malpighia Linnaeus
The West Indian Cheny, widely misidentified as Malpighia punicifolia Linnaeus, is Malpighia emarginata Sesse &
Mocino ex A.P. Candolle, according to Vivaldi (in Cuatrecasas and Croat, 1980:899). It is cultivated at Canefield Estate (Nicolson 4218), Morne Daniel (Whitefoord 6127), and at the Cherry Lodge Hotel in Roseau (DHN!), for which the hotel is named.
Malpighia coccigera
Malpighia coccigera Linnaeus, 1753:426.
Leaves ovate, small (-1 cm long), spiny-toothed; flowers pink.
Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Martinique; in Dominica only known from Cabrits: Inner Cabrite of Prince Rupert’s Head 19 Jun 1792 (Anonymous [Finlay?] s.n. at K), crest of NE side of West Cabrit (Nicolson 4207), sine loc.
(Imray 412 at K).
Stigmaphyllon Adr. Jussieu
The attribution of Stigmaphyllon emarginatum (Cavanilles) Adr. Jussieu (as Stigmaphyllon lingulatum (poiret) Small) to Dominica by Vdez (1957: 103) on the authority of Britton and Wilson (1924,5:441), who stated“St. Martii to St. Lucia,” has not been confirmed. This species is superficially similar to S.
diversifolium but the leaves are glabrate at maturity.
Stigmaphyllon ovatum (Cavanilles) Niedenzu was attributed to Dominica by Vklez (1957:103) as Brachypterys ovata (Cavanilles) Small on the authority of Britton and Wilson (1924, 5:439), who cited “Guadeloupe to Trinidad.” This species grows in wet coastal areas (mangroves), a rare habitat on Dominica.
1. Leaf-blade small (to 6 cm), obtuse to rounded and short-apiculate at apex; petiole to 1 cm long; styles unequal, the shorter with a slender beak, xerophyte
. . .
S. diversjfolium 1. Leaf-blade large (>6 cm), long-acuminate at apex; petiolesto 5 cm long: styles k equal, all foliaceous at apex;
mesophyte
. . .
S . puberum Stigmaphyllon diversjfoliumStigmaphyllon diversifoliwn (Kunth) Adr. Jussieu, 1840:290.-Grisebach, Banisieria diversifolia Kunth, 1822, 5:159.
Stigmaphyllon cordifoliwn Niedenzu, 1899:8.
1860: 119.
Vine or shrub; leaves elliptic, lanceolate or ovate, tomentose
beneath, apex acute, obtuse, or truncate; petals erose, yellow;
samara smaller, the wing to 2 cm long.
Lesser Antilles; frequent in Dominica in lowland dry scrub on west coast: Batali River (Webster 13175), Cabrits (Hodge 371 7, 4010), Dublanc (Hodge 2540), Grand Savanne (Beard 244, 1459, Ernst 1413, Hodge 3807, Stern & Wasshausen 2539, Wilbur 7641), Massacre (Whitefoord 4638), Mero (Chambers 2508, 2509), Pointe Ronde (Chambers 2659, Hodge 2646), Spanish Mt. (DHN!), Tarou Cliffs (Nicolson 1860). Apparently flowering throughout the year.
Stigmaphyllon pu beru m
Siigmaphyllon puberwn (L. Richard) Adr. Jussieu, 1840:289.
Banisieria pubera L. Richard, 1192 109.
Kalhbuli.
Vine; leaves lanceolate or elliptic, apex acuminate; petals fimbriate, yellow; samara large, the wing >3 cm long.
Northern South America to Belize, West Indies; occasional in Dominica in mesic (secondary?) woodlands to 700 m: Carib Reserve (Hodge 3356, Howard 554, Taylor 18), Clarke Hall (Ernst 171 I, 1299, Stern & Wasshausen 2422), Hatton Garden (Hodge 2956), La Chaudikre (Hodge 3641), Layou Bridge (Whitefoord 4381), Morne Anglais [Couliaboune] (Eggers 651), Pont Casd area (Howard 11716), Rosalie (Ernst 1358).
Flowering April to August, fruit quickly maturing.
Stems used as twine by Caribs was reported by Hodge and Taylor (1957571).
MALVACEAE
There is a commonly cultivated hedge shrub in Dominica with bright red, non-spreading petals, which I assume is Malvaviscus arboreus Cavanilles, although no voucher has been seen. Adjanohoun et al. (1985:137, pl. 136) reported medicinal use on Dominica.
1. Petals (3-)4 cm long or longer; fruit a loculicidal capsule or indehiscent.
3. Plant not covered with glands
. . . .
Abelmoschus 3. Plant covered with black glands. . . .
Gossypium 2. Leaves not or only very shallowly lobed.4. Calyx truncate; fruit indehiscent
. . .
Thespesia 4. Calyx 5- or 10-lobed; fruit dehiscent.5. Leaves serrate,
*
broader than long; fruits 4-5 cm long, broadly winged, stipitate, stellate- pubescent, long-perllcellate. . .
Wercklea 5. Leaves entire to crenulate, usually longer thanbroad; fruits smaller and not as above.
6. Fruits depressed, 5-winged, hispid
. . .
Fioria 6. Fruits ovoid, longer than broad. . .
Hibiscus 1. Petals to 3 cm long; fruit a schizocarp of several to manyseparating carpels (mericarps).
2. Leaves 3-5-lobed.
NUMBER 77 MALVACEAE 139 7. Calyx or inflorescence not subtended by bracts
8. Leaves cuneate to shallowly cordate; h i t s el cm 8. Leaves deeply cordate; fruits >1.5 cm wide; carpels 9. Carpels not inflated, the walls firm.
. . .
. . .
Abutilon 9. Carpels inflated at maturity, the walls membra- nous. . .
Herissantia 7. Calyx or inflorescence subtended by bracts (epicalyx).10. Calyx without epicalyx but inflorescence subtended by large, conspicuously veined bracts
. . . . . .
Malachra 10. Calyx subtended by epicalyx; inflorescence withoutlarge bracts.
11. Involucral bracts 3
. . .
Malvasfrum 11. Involucral bracts 5-8.12. Leaf blades eglandular, usually unlobed; petals yellow to greenish; carpels unarmed or with 12. Leaf blades with 1-3 open nectaries near base, usually lobed; petals pink; carpels with numer- ous hooked spines
. . .
Urena (epicalyx).wide; carpels 1-seeded
. . .
Sida3-seeded.
only 3 barbed spines
. . .
PavoniaAbelmoschus Medikus
Calyx spathaceous, 5-toothed on one side, deciduous; corolla subtended by a f persistent epicalyx.
Abelmoschus esculentus (Linnaeus) Moench, okra or gumbo, is cultivated on Dominica at Fort Shirley (Whirefoord 6166). It has stems glabrous or with spreading (not deflexed) hairs and a mature h i t about 20 cm long. Hodge and Taylor (1957580) discussed the Carib beliefs concerning this species under the name Hibiscus esculentus Linnaeus. Adjanohoun et al.
(1985135, pl. 101) reported medicinal uses.
Abelmoschus moschatus
Abelmaschus moschatus Medikus. 1787a:46.-Bates, 1%8:104.
Hibiscus abelmoschus Linnaeus, 17536%.
Annual herb; stem with deflexed hairs; flowers yellow with dark brown spot at base of each petal; pedicel usually >3 cm long; fruit e l 0 cm long.
Asiatic but widely introduced and escaping; in lowlands of Dominica: beside river at Hatton Garden Estate (Hodge 3182).
Abutilon Miller
Calyx 5-lobed, not subtended by epicalyx; staminal column with stamens at apex; carpels 2-more-ovuled, leathery at maturity.
Abutilon indicum
Abutilon indicum (Linnaeus) Sweet, 182654.
Sida indica Linnaeus, 173526.
Shrub to 1.2 m; leaves tomentose below; petals yellow to pale orange.
Pantropical; in Dominica in disturbed areas on west coast:
Gabriel (Wilbur 8228), West Cabrit (Hodge 3709, Smith 10332).
Fioria Mattei Fwria vitifolia
Fioria vitifdia (Linnaeus) Mattei, 1917:72.-Fryxell in Howard, 1989,5:214.
Hibiscus vitifolius Linnaeus, 17536%.
Densely pubescent shrub or herb to 2 m; leaves trilobed, dentate; petals yellow; capsule winged at apex.
Native to Old World tropics, naturalized in the West Indies;
only record from Dominica: sine loc. (Zmruy 54 at GH, 152 at GOET).
Gossypium Linnaeus
The species are variable and hybridization, followed by introgression, results in intermediate specimens that can be difficult to determine.
Used by Caribs to make cloth (Hodge and Taylor, 1957579).
1. Involucellar bract teeth gradually acuminate, sinuses f rounded; leaves 3-7-lobed, central lobe ovate to lanceo- late, usually >1.5x as long as broad; capsules usually 1. Involucellar bract teeth triangular and acute or lanceolate and acuminate, sinuses f acute; leaves 3-5-lobed, central lobe triangular to ovate, usually ~ 1 . 5 ~ as long as broad;
capsules 3-5-celled, usually ovoid or k globose, smooth
. . .
G. hirsutum 3-celled, .+. elongate, pitted. . .
G. barbadenseGossypium barbadense
Gmsypiwn barbadense Linnaeus, 1753:693.-Borssum Waalkes, 1965123.- Fryxell, 1979:70.
Coton blanc, coton noir.
Stipules 1-5 cm long; petals to 8 cm, yellow.
Originally South American, now widely cultivated; culti- vated and apparently escaping in Dominica: Carib Reserve (Srehlt 6398, 6422).
Adjanohoun et al. (1985133, pl. 100) reported use to treat tachycardia.
Kidney cotton (with seeds fused) is Gossypium barbadense var. brasiliense (RafineSque) Fryxell.
MALVACEAE SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 140
Gossypium hirsutum
Gossypiwn hirsu!wn Linnaeus, 1763:975.-Bonsum Waalkes, 1966:123.- Gassypiwn marie-galante Watt, 1927:344.
Gassypiwn hirsutwn var. marie-galante (Watt) J.B. Hutchinson et al., Fryxell, 1979:68.
1947:43.-Adam~, 1972~473.
Cotton tree, coton noir.
Stipules 0.5-1.5 cm; petals to 5 cm, cream to pale yellow.
Originally from Central America and Greater Antilles, now widely cultivated; cultivated and apparently naturalizing in Dominica, particularly in the west: Bataca (Stehle 6373,6403), Dublanc (Hodge 2541), Mahaut (Morden 7), Mero (Whitefoord 5693) [Chambers 2514 from Coulibistri is intermediate].
The Mahaut specimen was cultivated for cotton seed oil.
Herissantia Medikus Herissantia crispa
Herissantia c r i s p (Linnaeus) Brizicky, 1%8:279.
Sida c r k p Linnaeus, 1753:685.
Abutilon crispwn (Linnaeus) Medikus, 1787a:29. “ c r y ~ p w n . ‘ ~ Gayoides crispwn (Linnaeus) Small, 1903:764.
Bogenhrdia crispa (Linnaeus) Kearney, 1954 120.
Herb or shrub, often procumbent; petals white or yellowish;
carpels tardily dehiscent.
Old and New World tropics and subtropics; cited for Dominica by V61ez (1957:104) as Gayoides crispurn, appar- ently based solely on the distribution report by Britton and Wilson (1924, 5 9 9 ) of “West Indies, south to Grenada.” I have seen material from Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Vincent, and Grenada and suppose it is expected on Dominica near beaches.
Hibiscus Linnaeus, nom. cons.
Several species are native to the Old World tropics and cultivated on Dominica. The following have regularly toothed or lobed, persistent calyces. Hibiscus subdariffa Linnaeus, roselle, was cited for Dominica by V6lez (1957:lM) and has thick, succulent, edible calyx-involucres. Hibiscus rosa
-
sinensis Linnaeus, rose of China, is cultivated for its showy flowers and cv. Cooperi for its variegated leaves (Hodge 972).
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. schizopetalus Dyer (also known as Hibiscus schizopetalus (Dyer) J. Hooker; see Cheek, 1989) has laciniate, recurved petals (Hodge 967).
1. Involucral bracts linear, apex bifurcate; petals purplish- pink
. . .
H. furcellatus 1. Involucral bracts linear or lanceolate, apex entire; petalsyellow -orange.
2. Calyx >3 cm long, deciduous (with bracts) after anthesis; petals fading and drying deep red; trees (introduced in interior)
. . .
H. elatus2. Calyx <3 cm long, persistent (with bracts) on ripe fruit;
petals fading orange and drying greenish; shrubs or trees (usually of lowlands)
. . .
H. pernambucensisHibiscus elatus
Hibiscus elatus Swam, 1788:102.-Bates, 1965:64.-Kimber, 1970.
Blue mahoe.
Tall, straight tree to 20 m; petals usually >9 cm long, orange-red, fading quickly to dark crimson.
Central America and West Indies; apparently introduced into Dominica: East Cabrit (Whifefoord 5256), Dleau Gommier (Nicolson 2015), Riversdale (Nicolson 4060).
Planted as a fast-growing timber tree and discussed by Kimber. Adams also (1972475) pointed out that this appar- ently can hybridize with “H. tiliaceus,” i.e., H . pernambucen- sis here.
Hibiscus furcellatus
Hibiscus furcellatus Lamarck, 1789,3:358.
Densely pubescent shrub to 2 m; leaves cordate; petals Neonopics; in Dominica in lowlands: Soufriere Valley purplish pink.
(Cooper 138).
Hibiscus pernambucensis
Hibiscur pemmbucenvis hrruda, 1810:44.-FryxeU in Howard, 1989,5:225.
Hibiscus riliaceus sensu auctt. as to Lesser Antilles, non Linnaeus.
Seaside mahoe, mahoe doux.
Shrub to 2 m or tree to 10 m; petals usually <8 cm long, lemon yellow, fading quickly to tawny orange.
New World tropics; in Dominica in estuaries near sea: Carib Reserve (Hodge 3381, Taylor 20), Portsmouth (Hodge 3753).
Rope, twine, and caulking made from fibrous bark by Caribs (Hodge and Taylor, 1957:581). According to Fryxell, Asiatic H. tiliuceuus Linnaeus probably is a different species than H . pernambucensis.
Malachra Linnaeus
Coarse, pubescent herbs with whitish, conspicuously veined inflorescence bracts.
1. Inflorescence k sessile; outer bracts broadly triangular
. . . M.
alceifolia 1. Inflorescence long-stalked; outer bracts rounded. . .
M. capitata Malachra alceifoliaMalachra alceifolia Jacquin, 1789, Coll., 2:350, “alceaefolia” .-Guerke, 1892:350.
Gumbo zombie.
NUMBER 77 MALVACEAE 14 1 Stiffly hispid herbs to 2 m; petals 1.5 cm long, yellow.
South America and West Indies; in Dominica along roads:
Barakua (Nicolson 4069), East Cabrits (Whitefoord 5260), Carib Reserve (Hodge 3294), bridge above Clarke Hall (Ernst 1294), Hatton Garden (Hodge 3007).
Malachra capitata
Malachra capitata Linnaeus, 1767a:458.
Velutinous herbs; petals 1 cm long.
Central America and West Indies; cited for Dominica by Urban (1920,8:420).
The fact that there are no recent collections suggests this record is dubious; it does occur in Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Malvastrum A. Gray, nom. cons.
Malvastrum americanum
Maivasirwn americanwn (Linnaeus) Torrey in Emory, 1859, 2:38.-Adams, Maiva americana Linnaeus, 1753:687.
1972: 159.-Hill; 1982:187.
Suffrutescent herb; inflorescence terminal, spicate; petals yellow; fruiting carpels without spines.
Tropics; reported for Dominica by Velez (1957:104) as Malvastrum spicatum.
Malvastrum coromandelianum (Linnaeus) Garcke has a similar distribution, including Guadeloupe and Martinique (Hill, 1982:324) and was recently (1990) collected at the Fort Shirley ruins of the Cabrits (Hill 21322). Adjanohoun et al.
(1985135, pl. 102) reported medicinal usage in Dominica. It differs from M . americanum by its solitary axillary, pedicellate flowers and 3-spined fruiting carpels.
Pavonia Cavanilles, nom. cons.
It is difficult to dispose of the attribution of Pavonia spinifex (Linnaeus) Cavanilles to Dominica by Velez (1957:104). On one hand VClez failed to include the armed-fruited Antillean species P. fruticosa, which does occur on Dominica, and
“spinifex” might be a misidentification of P. fruticosa.
Secondly, it is possible that, by a slip of the pen, he meant P.
paludicola, then known as spicata (called P. racemosa by him) by “spinifex.” Finally, it is possible he did see P. spinifex from Dominica, although I have seen no material. Pavonia spinifex does occur in Martinique and Guadeloupe and may be expected in Dominica. It has spiny carpels like P. paludicola, but the leaves are ovate and serrate while the flowers are axillary and solitary.
1. Inflorescence k capitate; mericarps armed, the awns with deflexed hairs; leaves serrate, lanceolate
. . .
P. fruticosa 1. Inflorescence racemose; mericarps unarmed, leaves kentire, ovate
. . .
P. paludicolaPavonia fruticosa
Pavoniafruticosa (Miller) Fawcett & Rendle, 1926,5:130.
Sidafruticosa Miller. 1768.
Urena typhalaea Linnaeus, 1771:258.
Pavonia typhaiaea (Linnaeus) Cavanilles, 1787,3:134.
Herb or small shrub.
South America and West Indies; weed in plantations and roadsides on Dominica: Grand Savanne (Ernst 2123), Syndi- cate (Ernst 1896, Whitefoord 3945).
Pavonia paludicola
Pavonia piudicoia Nicolsm in Howard, 1989,5241.
Malache scabra B. Vogel in Trew, 1772:50, pl. 90.
Pavonia spicaia Cavanilles, 1787,3:136, pl. 46, nom. illeg.
Aiihaea racemosa Swartz, 1788:102, nom. illeg.
Pavonia racemosa Swartz, 1800:1215, nom. illeg.
Malache spicaia Kuntze, 1891, 1:70, nom. illeg.
Pavonia scabra (B. Vogel) Cifem, 1936, 321.Stehle et al., 1937, 1: 104.Stehle, 1943:42, non Presl.
Small sprawling shrub; flowers yellowish.
Neotropics; in water along river in Dominica: Indian River estuary (Hodge 3744), sine loc. (Imray s.n. at GH).
Cavanilles’ name is illegitimate because he cited earlier Malache scabra Vogel in synonymy and, by his comments, appears to indicate errors in Ehret’s illustration published by Trew, rather than exclude it.
Sida Linnaeus
Sida glabra Miller (also known as Sida glutinosa Cava- nilles) was reported for Dominica by Velez (1957: 105) on his own recognizance. This species occurs around the Caribbean but its actual distribution in the Lesser Antilles is obscure (at US we have materials from Antigua, St. Barthelmy, Montser- rat, and Guadeloupe). Fournet (1978:1502) reported it from several localities in Martinique. It would key here to S. urens, from which it differs by having pedicels 1-2 cm long and it has much shorter pubescence.
Sida spinosa Linnaeus was also reported for Dominica by V6lez (1957:105), on the authority of Britton and Wilson, 1924, 5:551), who stated “West Indies, south to Barbados, Grenada, and Aruba.” It would key to Sida wens but differs by its 1.2 cm pedicels and its thin stellate pubescence. The leaves are much smaller than in Sida glabra, which approximates S.
urens, but is instantly differentiated from both by being densely pubescent (velvety) on the lower leaf surface.
1. Petioles 1 cm or longer; leaves rounded to cordate at base.
2.
2.
Plants densely stellate-pubescent (velvety); pedicels to 1.5 cm long in fruit; carpels -10, each 2-awned, awns slender, retrorsely hispid and
as
long as the carpels. . .
S . cordifolia Plants thinly covered with spreading, elongate hairs;pedicels ~0.5 cm long; carpels 5, each 2-callose
. . .
S . urens142 MALVACEAE SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 1. Petioles el cm long; leaves obtuse to acute at base.
3. Leaves spirally arranged; pedxels 2-3 cm long; stipules hair-like; carpels -10, each 2-beaked
. . . . . .
S . rhombifolia 3. Leaves distichous; pedicels <1 cm long; stipuleslanceolate to falcate, often several-nerved.
4. Plants scabrid with sparse, short, stellate hairs;
flowers usually dark yellow; carpels 7 or more, each 2-beaked, beaks straight, hispid
. . .
S. acuta 4. Plants soft-pubescent with dense, elongate, stellate hairs; flowers yellowish white; carpels 5, each 2-beaked, beaks out-curved, smooth. . .
. . .
S. glomerata Sida acutaSida acuia N . Burman, 1768:147.-Fryxell in Howard, 1989,5246.
Sida carpinifolia Linnaeus f., 1782:3M.-Stehle1943:37.
Sweet broom, balit.
Sparsely stellate pubescent shrub; stipules lanceolate, 1 mm x 10 mm, ciliate; leaves elliptic-lanceolate, -1.5 cm x 4 cm but variable; flowers 1(-2) per axil, pale orange; pedicel usually
<0.5 cm but sometimes (on same specimen) about 1 cm long and jointed; carpels 7 or more, each 2-b&ed, the beaks hirsute.
Tropical and subtropical weed; common in dry or disturbed habitats in lowlands of Dominica: Bornes (Nicolson 4222, 4224), Canefield (Whitefoord 6093), Carib Reserve (Stehle 6414, 6440), Clarke Hall (Nicolson I855), Coulibistri (Ernst 1400), Grand Savanne (DeFilipps 175, Wilbur 8353), Hatton Garden (Hodge 2933, 2935), La Chaudiere (Hodge 3625), Marigot (Hodge 547), Pichelin (Ernst 1590), Portsmouth street weed (DHN!), Pointe Ronde (Hodge 2637), Roseau (Hodge 5 4 0 , sine loc. ( Z w q s.n.).
All our specimens appear to be the typical subspecies, sensu Borssum Waalkes (1966: 186).
The pulp is used as a poultice for sprains (Honychurch, 198056). Adjanohoun et al. (1985:137, pl. 104) reported medicinal uses.
Sida cordifolia
Sida cordifolia Linnaeus, 1753:684.
Suffrutescent herbs, with dense, velvety pubescence cover- ing all parts; stipules hair-like; petioles several cm long; leaves velvety, ovate, usually -3 cm x 5 cm, rounded to f cordate at base and obtuse at apex, flowers f clustered or solitary, yellow with a dark spot; pedicel short but to 1.5 cm in fruit; carpels 10, 2-awned, the awns as long as or longer than the carpels, slender, retrorsely hispid.
Tropical and subtropical; occasional along dry west coast of Dominica: Dublanc (Whitefoord 4273), Grand Savanne and vicinity (Ernst 1386,2116,2132, Wilbur 8114), South Chiltern to Scotts Head (Hodge 1623).
Sida glomerata
Sida glomerata Cavaniues, 1785. 1:18, pl. 2: fig. 6.
Suffrutescent, covered with rt spreading hairs; stipules lanceolate, 2 mm x 10 mm, ciliate; petiole <1 cm; leaves elliptic lanceolate, -2.5 cm x 1 cm but variable on same plant;
flowers solitary, white with yellowish tinge; pedicels very short, to 2 mm in fruit; carpels 5,2-beaked, the beaks smooth, often out-curved.
Neotropics; occasional in Dominica on dry west coast:
Grand Savanne and vicinity (Ernst 1101, Hodge 3782, Wilbur 8353).
Sida rhombifolia
Sida rhombifofia Linnaeus, 1753:684.
Sida retusa Linnaeus, 1763:961.
Sida rhombifofia var. retura (Linnaeus) Grisebach, 1859:75.
Balit.
Suffrutescent, sparsely stellate pubescent; stipules hair-like;
petiole <1 cm; leaves lanceolate, 0.6-2 cm x 3-6 cm, acute at base; flowers solitary, yellow; pedicel 2.3 cm long, pointed;
carpels -10,2-beaked, lightly hispid.
Pantropical weed; common in Dominica in mesic lowlands to 650 m: Bornes (Nicolson 4223), Carib Reserve (Hodge 3373, near Grand Bay (Ernst 1590), Wilbur 8018), Hatton Garden (Hodge 2934), La Chaudiere (Hodge 3693), Layou (Hodge 548), Lisdara (Hodge 545, 2419), Mt. Joy (Hodge 1287), Sylvania (Cooper 13), Syndicate (Whitefoord 3508).
Used
to make brooms by Caribs (Hodge and Taylor, 1957581). Three of five specimens cited there are this species, the other two are Sida ucutu. Adjanohoun et al. (1985139, pl.105) reported the flowers were indicated as aphrodisiac.
Sida wens
Sida wens Linnaeus, 1759a:114S.
Suffrutescent, covered with erect, spreading hairs; stipules hair-like; petioles -2 cm; leaves ovate, usually cordate at base and long-tapered at apex, -4 cm x 7 cm; flowers in glomerules, yellowish with purple center; pedicels to 0.5 cm; carpels 5, each bi-apiculate.
Widespread in Africa and neotropics; apparently rare in Dominica: sine loc. (fmruy s.n. at GH).
Reported for Dominica by Stehle et al. (1937, 1:96).
Thespesia Solander ex Correa, nom. cons.
Thespesia populnea
Thespesia populnea m a w s ) Solander ex Correa, 1807:290.-Howard, Hibiscus populneus Linnaeus, 1753:694.
1949:94.-Fryxell, 1979:86.
Tree to 9 m; leaves entire, broadly ovate, cordate; calyx