Marcgravia is a genus of plants in the family Marcgraviaceae native to the region spanning from Mexico to tropical South America. It is commonly eaten by the dwarf little fruit bat. The genus is named in memory of the German naturalist Georg Marcgraf. The plant is visited by Thomas's nectar bat.
Description
Marcgravia umbellata inflorescence
Marcgravia coriacea branch
Sterile Marcgravia umbellata branch climbing up a tree
Seeds of Marcgravia pittieri
Marcgravia are vines or climbing shrubs. Marcgravia is classified as a sub-parasitical shrub. The branches are dimorphic. The sterile branches creep or climb. The pendulous fertile branches are terete and do not bear roots.
The terminal, umbelliform, partly sterile inflorescence is composed of a ring of fertile flowers, as well as a number of nectaries derived from bracts, which are fused with sterile flowers. The fertile flowers have four sepals and four petals.
The chromosome count is 2n = 36, 38, 62–64.
Vegetative characteristics
Marcgravia are vines or climbing shrubs. Marcgravia is classified as a sub-parasitical shrub. The branches are dimorphic. The sterile branches creep or climb. The pendulous fertile branches are terete and do not bear roots.
Generative characteristics
The terminal, umbelliform, partly sterile inflorescence is composed of a ring of fertile flowers, as well as a number of nectaries derived from bracts, which are fused with sterile flowers. The fertile flowers have four sepals and four petals.
