Merremia similis

Nomenclature

Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication: 

Merremia similis Elmer, Leafl. Philip. Bot. 1: 335. 1908

Synonyms: 

? Convolvulus distillatorius Blanco

? Merremia distillatoria (Blanco) Merr., p.p.

Description

Habit: 
Climbers or sprawlers, perennial. Axial parts densely gray or rust-colored pubescent or farinose when young, later glabrescent. Stems terete, fistulose.
Leaves: 
Petiole 3–17 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate to circular, 8.5–18(–20) × 8–16(–20) cm, densely rust-colored or grayish tomentose when young, later glabrescent adaxially, base cordate, apex abruptly acuminate.
Inflorescences: 
Inflorescence peduncle to 30(–60 ?) cm, branched near apex. Pedicel thickened distally, with a thick lobed ring below sepals, 2–3 cm, 4–4.5 cm in fruit.
Flowers: 
Sepals obovate to broadly elliptic or circular, concave, ± equal, 1.5–1.8 cm, glabrous, margin membranous, apex obtuse or slightly retuse. Fruiting sepals to 2 cm, cupped around capsule. Corolla reddish ["white with a tinge of red" according to Elmer's protologue], broadly funnelform, 3–4 cm, midpetaline bands pubescent apically; limb slightly 5-lobed. Stamens 1.6–1.8 cm; filaments with 2 lines of hairs below insertion; anthers spirally twisted. Disc ring-shaped. Ovary conical, glabrous; style ca. 2.8 cm.
Fruits: 
Fruit ovoid, 1.5–1.8 cm; valves at first brown-black, later straw-colored.
Seeds: 
Seeds black, ca. 6 mm, tomentose-villous.
Author: 
Fang R.C. & G. Staples
References: 

Fang R.C., G. Staples, et al. 1995. Convolvulaceae in P. Raven & C.Y. Wu (eds.) Flora of China 16: 271–325.

Biogeography, Ecology and Natural History

Distribution Map: 
Distribution: 

Taiwan (Hengchun Peninsula), Philippines.

Ecology: 

In thickets and secondary forests at low and
medium altitudes. 

Author: 
Fang R.C. & G. Staples
References: 

Fang R.C., G. Staples, et al. 1995. Convolvulaceae in P. Raven & C.Y. Wu (eds.) Flora of China 16: 271–325.

Other information

General comments: 

Chang Ching-En (Fl. Taiwan 4: 385. 1978) recorded Merremia similis from the extreme southern portion of Taiwan on the Hengchun Peninsula. This was the only occurrence of the species outside the Philippines. A search for the plants in 2010 failed to locate any M. similis (Yang Sheng-Zehn, pers. comm.) and it is possible the Taiwan population has been extirpated.

Van Oooststroom (Blumea 3: 360–361. 1939) has discussed the ambiguity surrounding the taxon Blanco described as Convolvulus distillatorius and whether it was indeed identical with the one Merrill had before him when he made the combination Merremia distillatoria. Specimens cited by Merrill disagree in several points with Blanco's original description. Ooststroom therefore set aside this ambiguous name and took up Elmer's later-published M. similis, for which the typification and original description are quite clear. The correct application of names for this taxon requires further study, including access to type specimens not presently available.

Authorship for webpage

Editor: 
George Staples, Esmond Er
Contributors: 
Classification: 
Merremia similis
Wed, 2011-09-21 03:45 -- Esmond
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