Anredera vesicaria (Lam.) Gaertn. fil.

Anredera vesicaria as treated here has two morphologically distinct forms, which C. R. Sperling (1987) considered as functionally staminate and functionally pistillate forms of the same species. Functionally pistillate plants (traditional A. vesicaria) apparently do not produce pollen, yet produce fruit. Functionally staminate plants (traditional A. (Boussingaultia) leptostachys) produce pollen, but rarely produce fruit. Both forms produce tubers at the base of the stem and below ground, and it is the apparent means of reproduction of the staminate plants. Further biosystematic and molecular study of these organisms is warranted to determine whether this treatment is valid.

Anredera vesicaria is cultivated for its showy inflorescences and fragrant flowers (C. R. Sperling 1987).

Stems twining to 8 m, axillary tubers absent. Leaves: petiole 3-18 mm; blade ovate to elliptic, 2-16 × 0.5-9 cm, base of larger leaves proximal to inflorescence acute to cuneate, apex acute to obtuse. Inflorescences racemes or in branched panicles of racemes, 3-35(-70) cm; single bract subtending each pedicel oblong-oblanceolate, 1-2 × 0.2-0.5 mm; paired bracts subtending each flower deciduous, triangular, 0.6-1 × 0.5-0.8 mm, distinct. Flowers bisexual or functionally unisexual; sepals basally adnate to petals, keeled, becoming winged in fruit, cream-white, elliptic, 1.7-2 × 1-1.3 mm, apex obtuse; petals basally connate, cream-white, elliptic, 1.5-2.3 × 0.8-1.1 mm, apex obtuse, spreading at anthesis; stamens of bisexual and functionally staminate plants fleshy; filaments basally connate and dilated, 2.5-3.8 mm; anthers 0.8-1 mm; stamens of functionally pistillate plants reduced and sterile; pistils in bisexual and functionally pistillate plants 0.4-0.6 mm; styles 0.8-1.5 mm, basally connate ¹/3-¹/2 their length; stigmas clavate to bifid; pistils of functionally staminate plants reduced; pedicel 1-3 mm. Utricles with style bases persistent, not [rarely] produced in functionally staminate plants, obovoid, 1-1.4 mm.

Fla., Tex.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America; Eurasia; Africa; Pacific Islands; Australia.

Flowering late summer-fall.

Disturbed areas, fencerows, roadsides, thickets; 0-500m.

Basella vesicaria Lamarck in J. Lamarck et al., Encycl. 1: 382. 1785; Anredera leptostachys (Moquin-Tandon) Steenis; Boussingaultia leptostachys Moquin-Tandon

Anredera vesicaria (Lam.) Gaertn. f. in Gaertn. Pruct. 3: 176
1807.
Polygonum scon Jens I. Sp. PI. 364, in part. 17vt. Basella vesicaria Lam. Encyc. 1; 3K2. 1785. Anredera spicala J. !•" Gmel Syst. Nat. 2: 454. 1791. ■Clarisio tolMlis Abat, Mem 1792.
A nreJera vesiculosa Poir. in Lam, Bncyc. Stippl. 1:391. 1811. AnreJera tcandaii Moq. in DC Prodr. 13 230. 1849.
A slender, much branched vine, with often high-climbis leaf-bl
or ovate, 3-6.5 cm. long, 1.7-4.3 cm. broad, acute, acuminate, or obtuse at the apex, abruptly
narrowed or truncal) tori petioled ; racemes stout, 2 13 cm. long, densely flowered;
wing of the sepals in fruit 4-5 mm. long, petals pale, elliptic or elliptic-oval, I S 2 mm
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at noN Cuba and Jamaica 'anama; sot thward i" Peru. Naturalized
in the I'hilipi'i
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Anredera vesicaria, common names Texas madeiravine or sacasile, and the related A. cordifolia are the only two species of the family Basellaceae known to occur in the wild in the contiguous United States. Both are sometimes cultivated for their showy and fragrant floral displays. Anredera cordifolia is widespread throughout the warmer regions of the world. Anredera vesicaria is native to Texas as well as to Mexico, Central America, West Indies, and Venezuela and it is introduced in Florida. In Texas and Florida the species grows in thickets and in disturbed areas such as roadsides and fence rows at elevations less than 500 m (1650 feet).

Anredera vesicaria is an herbaceous, twining vine that can reach a height of 8 m (27 feet). It has small, cream-colored flowers less than 2 mm (0.08 inches) across but borne in large racemes or panicles as much as 70 cm (28 inches) long. The flowers produce an intense and pleasant scent.