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Lycianthes multiflora BitterSolanaceae - Tobacco Family |
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Description. A woody liana, reproductive at 3 to 10 m; stems to 1.5 cm, without spines; leaves to 9 x 14 cm, seldom paired, sparse soft stellate hairs mostly on veins, ovate to elliptic, apex acuminate, base rounded; inflorescence 1-8 mm, axillary between a leaf and a new twig or at the end of a new twig; flowers with pedicels 7-10 mm, calyx with 10 linear appendages, 3 mm long, corolla white, 2 cm across, lobes fused almost to apex, yellow anthers; fruit 1-2 cm, globose, bright red-orange. Similar species: Lycianthes furcastistellata is a very similar liana of high cloud forest ridges with small, densely pubescent, ovate leaves and blue flowers. The other local Lycianthes spp. are shrubs or epiphytes, not climbers. Solanum siparunoides and S. lanceifolium both have spines and only 5 calyx lobes. Tournefortia hirsutissima (Boraginaceae) leaves are never paired. Archibaccharis panamensis (Asteraceae) has similar pubescent leaves, but they are always solitary at a node. Local distribution. Pacific slope at 1200-1600 m; also Atlantic slope at 600-1300 m (San Miguel, Refugio Eladio, Las Nubes). Habitat. Forest edge, large gaps and stream margins in forest. Species range. Belize to Panama Abundance. Common Phenology. Flowers: Jun, Sep-Jan; Fruit: Oct +.
Herbivores. Ithomia patilla, Napeogenes tolosa, Oleria paula, O. vicina, Pteronymia artena Pollinators. Bees Seed dispersers. Birds Comments. A common liana on forest edges on both slopes. Voucher No. Haber 8676 |
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