Nomenclature
Hewittia malabarica (L.) Suresh, Interp. Rheede Hort. Malab. 88. 1988.
Convolvulus malabaricus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 155. 1753.
Convolvulus scandens Milne, Descr. Cat. Seeds E. Indies 2. 1773.
Convolvulus sublobatus L.f., Suppl. 135. 1781.
Hewittia bicolor Wight & Arn., Madr. J. Sci. ser. I, 5: 22. 1837.
Hewittia scandens (Milne) Mabb., Taxon 29(5,6): 606. 1980.
Hewittia sublobata (L.f.) Kuntze, Rev. Génl. Pl. 441. 1891.
Shutereia sublobata (L.f.) House, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 33: 318. 1906.
Biogeography, Ecology and Natural History
Native in tropical Africa, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Philippines; seemingly introduced and naturalized in Jamaica and the Pacific Islands.
Often
a plant of disturbed areas near human habitation: roadsides, coconut
plantations, agricultural fields, waste places, as well as in disturbed areas,
in the edges or clearings of evergreen forest, disturbed forest, deciduous
forest, and in brushy thickets; altitude: near sea level–850 m.
Flowering: January, April, August, September–November; fruiting: January, February, April, October–December.
Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.
Other information
Corolla color varies in this species from pale cream color, almost white, with a maroon central ‘eye’, to a vivid butter-yellow, also with a dark red to purple-black eye. The capsules appear to dehisce tardily, the 4 valves separating except at the apex; each valve again tears longitudinally at several points, but the tears don’t reach the apex. The whole fruit at this stage has a latticed look, with the seeds still trapped inside.
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