Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Bojer
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
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Family
Convolvulaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Twining liana, without latex, attaining more than 5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, densely canescent when young, becoming glabrous when mature. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 12-22 (27) x 8.5-20 cm, cordiform. coriaceous, the apex obtuse to rounded, sometimes mucronate, the base cordiform, the margins entire; upper surface dark, dull, glabrous, with the venation slightly sunken; lower surface densely canescent, with the pinnate venation prominent; petioles 5-15 cm long, densely canescent. Flowers few, in axillary simple or double dichasial cymes; bracts foliaceous, ovate, acuminate, 2-5 cm long, canescent on the lower surface, forming an involucre at the base of the dichasia; peduncles densely canescent, up to 15 em long. Calyx crateriform, canescent, accrescent, of 5 ovate sepals, obtuse, mucronate, 1.5-2 cm long; corolla lavender, dark violet in the throat, infundibuliform, 6-6.5 cm long, canescent outside, the limb with 5 slightly prominent, rounded lobes; stamens and style not exserted. Indehiscent fruits ovoid, 1-1.5 cm long, puberulous, the pericarp thick, subtended by the subwoody, persistent sepals, slightly shorter than the fruit; seeds light brown, ca. 5 mm long, densely appressed short-pubescent, with two sides flat and one convex, the hilum forming a navel.
Phenology - Flowering from April to August, collected in fruit in November.
Conservation Status - Exotic, cultivated in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, uncommon.