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(Last Modified On 8/1/2013)
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(Last Modified On 8/1/2013)
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Species
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Melothria trilobata Cogn.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Mart., Fl. Bras. 6(4): 26. 1878.
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Note
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TYPE: Brazil, Ule 8343 (MO, photo of isotype at B, specimen now destroyed).
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Synonym
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Melothria trilobata var. sphaerocarpa Cogn. in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 578. 1881. TYPE: Colombia, Andre 2477 (BR, holotype, not seen). Melothria angustiloba Cogn. in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 579. 1881. TYPE: Mexico, Hahn 106 (P, holotype, not seen). Melothria trilobata var. costaricensis Cogn., Pflanzenr. 88 (IV, Fam. 275. II): 81. 1916. TYPE: Costa Rica, Pittier 8504 (BR, holotype, not seen; US, isotype). Melothria heterophylla Pittier, Bol. Soc. Venez. Ci. Nat. 6: 200. 1940. TYPE: Venezuela, Pittier 9117 (US, holotype).
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Description
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Vines; stems glabrate to sparsely crisped pilose. Leaves suborbicular in out- line, 6-10 cm long, about as wide as long, deeply 5- to 7-lobate, the lobes acute to acuminate, apiculate at the apex, the base cordate, the margin undulate, remotely toothed, submembranaceous to chartaceous, the upper surface pubes- cent on the veins, minutely white pustulate, sometimes obscurely so, the lower surface sparsely to densely pubescent; petioles 1-5 cm long, sparsely pilose and sometimes with short glandular trichomes; tendrils simple, sparsely pilose. Sta- minate flowers in axillary, long-pedunculate racemes, the rachis 1-3 cm long, filiform, sparsely pilose, 5- to 7-flowered; pedicels 4-6 mm long; calyx narrowly campanulate to subcylindric, the lobes 0.5-1.0 mm long, triangular, densely ap- pressed pubescent at the apex, sparsely pubescent to glabrate towards the base; corolla yellow, the lobes ovate oblong, erect, the outer surface villous, the inner surface glabrate; anthers oblong, densely ciliate. Pistillate flowers solitary, in the same axils as the staminate flowers; peduncles stout, 5-8 mm long, sparsely pilose; calyx and corolla as in the staminate flowers; ovary ovoid, glabrous, smooth; staminodia minute. Fruits green with darker green stripes, ovoid, 4-5 cm long, 2.5-3.0 cm in diameter, smooth, glabrous, subbaccate; seeds white seri- ceous, narrowly ovoid, 5-7 mm long, 3-4 mm wide.
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Habit
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Vines
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Note
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Melothria trilobata occurs in tropical moist forests and thickets
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Distribution
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from Mexico south to Colombia and Surinam.
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Note
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The species is somewhat variable vegetatively. It is locally known as "sandillita" in Panama. It is also used medicinally to some extent.
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Specimen
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BOCAS DEL TORO: Nievecita, Ba-rtlett 3 (MO). Changuinola Valley, Dunlap 397 (F, US). Water Valley, Chiriqui Lagoon, Wedel 1532 (GH, MO), 1830 (GH, MO, US). CANAL ZONE: Summit Garden, Croat 12829 (MO). Gaillard Highway, 2 mi NE of Summit Garden, Croat 13796 (MO). Gaillard Highway, 1 mi NW of Summit Garden, Croat 13918 (MO). Pipeline Road, ca. 5 mi N of Gamboa gate, D'Arcy & D'Arcy 6106 (MO, US). Ancon Hill, Duke 4594 (MO). Road C-21, Duke 5769 (GH, MO). Coco Solo, near Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Army Tropical Test Center, Elias & Kirkbride 1622 (MO). Hills E of Curundu, Harvey 5209 (F). 1/2 km W of Summit Gardens, Nee 9491 (MO, USF). Ancon Hill, Piper 5561 (US). Between Corozal and Ancon, Pittier 2640 (US). Cerro Gordo, near Culebra, Standley 25983 (US). Corozal, Standley 27338 (US). Near Fort Randolf, Standley 28703 (US). Along the old Las Cruces Trail, between Fort Clayton and Corozal, Standley 29112 (US). Frances Field, Stevens 183 (US). Culebra, Stevens 949 (US). 2 mi N of Cocle, Tyson 1634 (MO, SCZ). Miraflores Lake, White 151 (MO). Barro Colorado Island, Zetek 4996 (F, MO), 5591 (USF). COLON: San Miguel de la Borda, Croat 9879 (MO). Between Frances Field Canal Zone and Catival, Standley 30157 (US). DARIEN: Rio Pirre, Croat & Porter 15537 (MO). Santa Fe, Rio Sabana, Duke 4139 (MO). LOS SANTOS: Los Toretos, Dwyer 2442 (MO). PANAMA: Rio Pacora, E of Panama City on Panama National Highway, Bartlett & Lasser 16953 (MICH). Rio Potrero, 2 mi from Arraijan, Duke 4676 (GH, MO, US). San Jose Island, Erlanson 504 (GH, NY, US). Chagres, Isthmus of Panama, Fendler 124 (GH, US). San Jose Island, Johnston 370 (US). Bald Hill Road, San Jose Island, Johnston 371 (GH, MO). Las Sabanas, Standley 25925 (US). Tumba Muerto Road near Panama, Standley 29830 (US). Juan Diaz, Standley 30628 (US). W of Chepo Road to Panama City, Tyson 5372 (SCZ). SAN BLAS: Trail between Rio Dian and Rio Ailigandi, Warner 223 (F).
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