Flora of Dominica, Part 2 - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 77 RUBIACEAE 197
1. Leaves usually 1 or more cm wide.
2. Stipules sheathing; inflorescences becoming >1 cm
across; seeds transversely grooved; septum between
cocci persistent, finally free-standing ..........
....................... S. assurgens
2. Stipules not sheathing; inflorescences c1 cm across;
seeds longitudinally pitted; septum splitting or dissolving.
...................... S. ernstii
1. Leaves rarely >0.5 cm wide.
3. Leaves with conspicuous scabrosities on midrib below
...................... S. eryngioides
3. Leaves not as above.
4. Leaves verticillate, linear, c2 mm wide.
5. Low, spreading or cushion-forming woody shrubs;
leaves to 6 mm long, k sessile, flat, rounded at base
.................... S. berteroana
5. Erect herbs with woody base; leaves lanceolate to
linear, 2-6 cm long, membranous .........
.................... S. verticillata
4. Leaves 2-4 at node, lanceolate, >2 mm wide.
6. Calyx lobes 2 ............ S. muritiana
6. Calyx lobes 4.
7. Leaves 5x longer than broad; cocci unequal, 1
with 3 calyx lobes and closed, the other with 1
calyx lobe and open ......... S. confusa
7. Leaves 3x longer than broad; cocci equal and
open ................ S. prostrata
Spermacoce assurgens
Spermacoce assurgens Ruiz & PavQ, 1798, 1:60, pl. 92.-Verdcourt,
1983:547.
Spermacoce sqjhuescens Jaquin, 1801,3:40, pl. 322.
Borreria Ioevis sensu auctt., not as to basionym.Steyermark, 1972:818.
Leaves paired, scabrid; inflorescences many-flowered; corolla
longer than calyx, pilose on inner surface; stamens
included; capsule hirtellous above; cocci attached, equal, both
opening at top with partial septum becoming free-standing;
seeds dark brown, with striking transverse grooves.
Neotropical; a common weed along roads and in disturbed
soil on Dominica to 800 m: Clarke Hall (Ernst 151 7, 1528),
Coulibishi (Wilbur 8334), Freshwater Lake (Fosberg 48277,
Wilbur 7422, Whitefoord 3851), Laudat (Hodge 1804, Lloyd
41, Velez 3594), Lisdara (Hodge 708), Melville Hall (Hodge
709, Milton (Hodge 2591), Morne Aux Diables (Wilbur
8043B), Mt. Joy (Hodge 1275), Ridgefield (Hodge 2154),
Roseau (Hodge 704, Lloyd 930), South Chiltern (Hodge 1466),
Sylvania (Hodge 709), Syndicate (Ernst 1570).
Seen at Syndicate in shady places, Diodia being in open
places.
Fosberg and Powell (in prep.) report that the basionym of the
usual name for this species, Borreria luevis, does not apply.
They provide an ample description from Lamarck’s type of
Spermacoce laevis (from Santo Domingo). Lamarck’s species
has been identified with Spermacoce tenuior Linnaeus by
Verdcourt (1983:545).
Spermacoce berteroana
Spermacoce berteraana Howard, 1988:287.
Woody herb, stems spreading, 4-angled; leaves sessile,
ovate, small (to 6 mm x 3 mm); flowers k capitate at branch
ends, subtended by 4 leaves; calyx lobes 3; corolla to 2.5 mm
long; capsule 1.5 mm; seeds ellipsoidal, black, foveolate, 1.2
mm long.
Endemic to northern Lesser Antilles; near northeast coast of
Dominica: “moors near Woodford Hill”(Hodge 3501).
My effort to recollect this around Woodford Hill failed. I did
not find any habitat I would call “moors.” The specimen looks
like something to be found near the sea, rather fleshy, etc.
Spermacoce confusa
Spermacoce confusa Rendle. 1936 [Jan]:12.-Fawcett & Rendle, 1936 [Jul],
7: 120.-Gillis. 1974a:185.-Nicolson, 1977bM6.
Spermacoce tenuior sensu auctt plur., non Linnaeus.-Gaertner, 1788, 1:122,
pl. 25: fig. 9.-Bacigalupo, 1972:344, fig. 1.
Leaves paired, rough above; inflorescences few-flowered;
calyx lobes equal; stamens included; capsules crustaceous,
hirtellous, the cocci attached, unequal, one with 3 calyx lobes
and closed, the other with one calyx lobe and open; seeds
glossy, brown, finely reticulate.
Neotropics; roadside weed in Dominica: Pointe Ronde
(Hodge 2639).
Spermacoce ernstii
Spermacoce ernstii Fosberg & Powell in Fosberg & Sachet, 1980a:29,
Z’herb acouette.
Leaves opposite; inflorescences small, rather few-flowered,
calyx lobes k equal, blunt; corolla equaling calyx lobes;
stamens included; capsule with a few hairs; cocci attached,
equal, both finally opening by splitting of the septum; seeds
glossy, brown, minutely and shallowly pitted (rather than
reticulate), >1 mm long.
Neotropics, introduced and spreading in the Pacific; roadside
weed in Dominica: Carib Reserve (Hodge 3372), Grand Bay
road (Ernst 1719, road between Soufriere village and Pointe
Michel (Ernst 1341, mixed with S. assurgenr that it superficially
resembles), South Chiltern (Hodge 1513).
Spermacoce eryngioides
Spermacoce eryngioides (Chamisso & Schlechtendal) Kuntze, 1898,3(2):123.
Borrerio eryngioides Chamisso & Schlechtendal, 1828:316.
Borreria ocymoides sensu auctt., pro parte minore, not as to type.
Leaves whorled but two distinctly larger at each node,
linear-lanceolate, revolute; inflorescence small but many-