Marsdenia sp.

Name and publication

Marsdenia sp.

Description

What are sold as “canoinha” in the potpourri trade appear to be follicles of a Marsdenia sp. Marsdenia spp. are vines. Follicles (in the native state) are 9-15 cm long x 3-4 cm wide, green to beige reddish and reticulated on the interior, dark brown finely reticulated on the exterior, and usually split for a few millimeters at both ends.

Nativity and distribution

This Marsdenia sp. is probably native to Brazil.

Family

Asclapiadaceae, also placed in Apocynaceae

 fruit follicles, exterior (top) and interior (bottom); photo copy; The Lebermuth Company, Inc.

fruit follicles, exterior (top) and interior (bottom); photo © The Lebermuth Company, Inc.

 fruit, inner surface; photo by Lyndon Photography

fruit, inner surface; photo by Lyndon Photography

 fruit, outer surface; photo by Lyndon Photography

fruit, outer surface; photo by Lyndon Photography

 fruit, inner surface, close-up; photo by Lyndon Photography

fruit, inner surface, close-up; photo by Lyndon Photography