Asplundia microphylla (Oerst.) Harling

(Cyclanthaceae)

Espinoza, R., Guadamuz, A., Perez, D., Chavarría, F. and Masís, A. 1998. Asplundia macrophylla (Cyclanthaceae) Species Page, June 12, 1998. Species Home Pages, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. http://www.acguanacaste.ac.cr

I. Identification:

Climbing vine.

Flower:

Fruit:

The fruit is a cluster of berries. Fleshy and yellow.

Infrutescence
   

 

 

Leaves:

Palmate leaves. Bifid from the middle. Approximately 25 cm long.

 

Upper surface

 

Under surface

 

Leaf arrangement

 

Bark and wood:

Dark green

Whole plant architecture:

Similar species:

It can be confused with some species from the Arecaceae (palm) family, but the inflorescence of the Cyclanthaceae has a spathe and spadix. The clustered fruits of the Cyclanthaceaes are also characteristic.

Verification:

II.Geographic distribution:

International:

In Costa Rica:

In the Area de Conservación Guanacaste:

 Map of macro-habitats of the ACG

III. Natural History:

IV. How to find:

In the San Cristobal sector, on the bank of the Cucaracho river on the trails to Vivero.

Acknowledgements.

This project was carried out by the Area de Conservación Guanacaste/CR, with help from INBio/CR, ICBG from the Foggarty center, NIH/USA and NSF/USA. We would especially like to thank Barry Hammel for the taxonomic identification of this species.

Thanks to Kate Beattie and Alexandra Kern for helping with the image management and the translation of this species page.

Literature cited.