Species Descriptions

Remirema bracteata

Author:
Staples, G. & P. Traiperm.
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
General comments:

In general aspect, R. bracteata is rather similar to O. ventricosa (Bert.) Peter, from the West Indies and Mariana Islands of the Pacific, but it differs in technical details. Now that mature fruits have been studied, their morphology is unique in the Convolvulaceae. Plants grow in rugged limestone terrain, and the stems emerge from deep cracks among jagged boulders. The above-ground parts, though expansive, are entirely herbaceous and the aspect of the plant suggests that it dies down during the prolonged dry season, resprouting from enlarged underground parts when the rains return.

Seeds sprouted readily in cultivation and study of container-grown seedlings showed that an enlarged root or tuber developed by the time the young plants were about 1 m tall.

Author:
Staples, G. & P. Traiperm.
Distribution:

Thailand (Kanchanaburi). Endemic.

Ecology:

On limestone hills in bamboo forest, Sai
Yok district, the only known locality; altitude: 200 m. Flowering: July,
August. Fruiting: November.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flower sepals glabrous, outer 2 oblong-obovate, c. 44 by 22 mm, apiculate, inner 3 oblong-elliptic or oblong, c. 40 by 16 mm, acute; corolla tubular-campanulate, 7.5–9 cm long, white, glabrous outside, lobes triangular, erect, c. 1.5–1.8 cm long; stamen scales obovate, c. 5 by 3.5 mm, margins slightly erose, filaments 20–26 mm long, bases tomentose, anthers 7–9 mm long; disc annular, c. 1 mm high; ovary 1–2 by c. 2 mm high, glabrous, style 27–30 mm long, glabrous. Fruiting calyx 7–8 cm long, whitish turning brown.
Fruits:
Fruit composed of 4 (or fewer) obovoid nutlets, fruit wall tough and cartilaginous basally, thinner, translucent, very sticky above middle.
Habit:
Climber to 8 m; stems striate, fistulose, glabrous.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescence 2–4-flowered; peduncle thicker than petiole, 11–24 cm long; lower bracts broadly ovate to orbicular, apex shortly acuminate, up to 3.3 cm by 2 cm, upper bracts similar in shape, smaller; pedicel 1–2.1 cm long, thickened above.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Remirema bracteata Kerr, Hooker’s Icon. Pl. 35: 1–2, pl. 3435. 1943. TYPE. Thailand. Kanchanaburi: Sai Yok district, on limestone hill, Marcan 2349 (holotype K).

Leaves:
Leaves broadly ovate, 9.5–15 by 7–20 cm, base cordate, apex abruptly acuminate, membranous, underside paler and minutely papillose; lateral veins 6–9 per side, prominent; petiole slender, 3.5–8.5 cm long.
Phenology:

Flowering: July, August. Fruiting: November.

References:

Staples, G. & P. Traiperm. 2010. Remirema in Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 455–457.

References:

Staples, G. & P. Traiperm. 2010. Remirema in Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 455–457.

Seeds:
Seed broadly obovoid-globose, 10–12 mm diam., dark brown, glabrous, minutely granular; hilum subcircular, 5–6 mm diam., pale yellowish.

Mon, 2011-10-17 10:16 -- Esmond
Operculina riedeliana

Author:
G. Staples
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
General comments:

Apparently this is a widespread species that is nowhere common. Plants are massive and can blanket large thickets or patches of forest. The younger stems have a distinctive glaucous bloom that disappears as the stems mature and become woody.

Common names and uses:
Chingcho talap (Thai).
Author:
G. Staples
Distribution:

India (Andaman Islands), Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Solomon Islands.

Ecology:

Uncommon, in dense forest, on dry hillsides
and in grasslands; altitude: near sea level–140 m.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flowers showy; sepals broadly elliptic to orbicular, subequal, 13–17 mm long, apex broadly rounded or emarginate, in fruit calyx c. 20 mm long, enclosing capsule; corolla broadly funnelform, 4–5 cm long, pale yellow (rarely white), midpetaline bands densely hairy outside; stamens included, filaments pubescent below insertion; pistil included.
Fruits:
Capsule 25–30 mm diam.
Habit:
Large climber, glabrous; stems subwoody, to 10 m long, smooth or minutely warty.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescences 1– to several-flowered; peduncles stout, 2–11 cm, base terete, flattish apically; bracts oblong, 10–15 mm long, scarious; pedicels clavate, 10–20(–30) mm long, thickened in fruit.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Operculina riedeliana (Oliv.) Ooststr., Blumea 3: 366. 1939.

Leaves:
Leaves broadly ovate to orbicular, rarely oblong or narrowly oblong, 8–18 by 3–6(–15) cm, often drying reddish brown, base cordate, subcordate to truncate, apex abruptly acuminate, mucronulate; lateral veins 7 or 8 per side; petiole slender, 2–10 cm, terete.
Phenology:

Flowering: January, February, December; fruiting: February.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Seeds:
Seeds 4, c. 7 mm, dull black, edges pilose-papillose.
Synonyms:

Ipomoea riedeliana Oliv. in Hooker’s Icon. Pl. ser. III, 5: t. 1424. 1883.

Merremia riedeliana (Oliv.) Hallier f., Bot. Jahrb. 16: 552. 1893.

Ipomoea petaloidea var. andamanica Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 63(2): 110. 1894.

Merremia platypeltis Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 74(2): 307. 1906.

Mon, 2011-10-17 10:06 -- Esmond
Operculina petaloidea

Author:
G. Staples
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
Common names and uses:
Ban bai, kur-ji-jo-kew (Thai).
Author:
G. Staples
Distribution:

India, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam.

Ecology:

Uncommon, in sunny areas in evergreen
forest, along stream banks, roadsides; altitude: 180–1200 m.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flower sepals subequal, elliptic, concave, outer 2 narrower, 13–15 mm long, mucronulate, inner broader, 15 mm; corolla flaring funnelform, 3.5–4 cm, pale yellowish, midpetaline bands sericeous outside, inside glabrous; stamens subequal, included, filaments 14–18 mm, glandular below insertion, anthers spirally dehiscent; pistil included, 17–19 mm long, glabrous, ovary broadly ovoid.
Fruits:
Capsule c. 15 mm diam., tan, cupped by accrescent calyx.
Habit:
Herbaceous twiner, glabrous or yellowish puberulent near nodes; stems terete, striate, or narrowly alate below nodes.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescence axillary or terminal on branches, cymose, 1–9-flowered; peduncles terete, 0.9–2 cm; bracts linear-lanceolate, 7–20 mm, deciduous; pedicels clavate, striate-angulate, 10–18 mm.
Infraspecific Characters:

Several authors of Indian floras, beginning with C.B.Clarke (Fl. Brit. India 4: 212. 1883) have tried to distinguish infraspecific taxa based on leaf shapes. As shown by Songkhla & Khunwasi (Thai for. Bull. (Bot.) 20: fig. 34, 35. 1993) the leaves vary considerably in shape and these can all be found on the same plant. It seems that cauline leaves tend to be broader and the leaves on lateral shoots may be the same shape, only smaller, or narrower and linear-oblong in shape. Recognizing varieties based on this sort of variation is pointless and the linear-leaved variety is subsumed as a synonym here.

Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Operculina petaloidea (Choisy) Ooststr., Blumea 3: 369. 1939.

Leaves:
Leaves ovate, broadly elliptic, to oblong-linear, 5.8–11.3 by 2.7–5.8 cm, pubescent when young, later glabrate, base rounded to truncate, apex obtuse or acute, mucronulate; lateral veins 7–9 per side; petiole 1.5–2.6 cm, ridged to narrowly winged.
Phenology:

Flowering: February–April, November.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Seeds:
Seeds 4, ovoid, 5–6 mm long, black.
Synonyms:

Ipomoea petaloidea Choisy in DC., Prodr. 9: 360. 1845.

Ipomoea petaloidea var. pauciflora C.B.Clarke, Fl. Brit. India 4: 212. 1883.

Operculina petaloidea var. pauciflora (C.B.Clarke) Parmar, J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 18(2): 251–252. 1994.

Mon, 2011-10-17 09:56 -- Esmond
Neuropeltis indochinensis

Author:
G. Staples
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
Common names and uses:
Pa chi kha nong (Thai).
Author:
G. Staples
Distribution:

Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Ecology:

In dry evergreen
forest, thicket near stream, on granite hill; altitude: 50–400 m.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flower sepals subequal, outer 2 elliptic, 2.5 mm, obtuse, tomentose, inner sepals orbicular, 2–2.25 mm, margins glabrous; corolla broadly campanulate or rotate, 5–8 mm long, white or cream, lobes elliptic-oblong, pilose outside, inside glabrous; stamen filaments glabrous at insertion, anthers oblong-sagittate; ovary ovoid, c. 1.5 mm, pilose, styles 2–2.5 mm, stigmas vaguely horseshoe-shaped.
Fruits:
Capsule subglobose, 5–6 mm tall, brown, glabrous, borne slightly below midpoint of papery, accrescent bract.
Habit:
Woody climber, axial parts shortly appressed pilose, later glabrate; stems 5–10 m long, lenticellate.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescences 1 or 2, rusty-tomentose, 3–8 cm; pedicels 2 mm; bracts ovate or elliptic, 2–2.5 mm; bracteoles 2, minute; fruiting bract broadly elliptic or orbicular, 2.5–4 cm long, base rounded or subcordate, apex rounded, subemarginate, or attenuate, mucronulate, both sides shortly appressed pilose.
Infraspecific Characters:

Kerr (Fl. Siam. Enum. 3(1): 90. 1951) mentioned the extraordinary variability in Thai specimens of Neuropeltis and was the first to point out the characters of hairy vs. glabrous filament bases and the proportion of style length to stigma diameter, but nonetheless included all Thai specimens in N. racemosa. Van Ooststroom (Blumea 5: 270. 1942) used those very characters to segregate some Indochinese specimens as a new species, N. indochinensis, and pointed out that the specimen, Thorel 629, used by Gagnepain and Courchet to prepare the figure 31 that appears in Fl. Indo-Chine (Fl. Indo-Chine 4: 290. fig. 31. 1915) is actually N. indochinensis. Van Ooststroom’s floral characters work well as long as fully developed, open flowers are available. Based on those characters, some flowering specimens from eastern and southeastern Thailand are here referred to N. indochinensis. To date it has not been possible to correlate the vegetative and fruiting bract characters with these floral characters in any meaningful way.

Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Neuropeltis indochinensis Ooststr., Blumea 5: 270. 1942.

Leaves:
Leaves elliptic, elliptic-oblong, rarely oblanceolate, 6–¬15 by 2–6 cm, base cuneate, sometimes unequal-sided, apex tapering attenuate or acuminate, mucronulate, both sides appressed pilose, glabrescent; lateral veins 7–9 per side; petiole 0.5–1.5 cm.
Phenology:

Flowering: September, November.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Seeds:
Seed c. 4 mm diam.
Synonyms:

Misapplied name: Neuropeltis racemosa authors not Wall.: e.g., Gagnep. & Courchet in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 4: 290. fig. 31. 1915, in part; Kerr, Fl. Siam. 3(1): 90. 1951, in part; Songkhla & Khunwasi, Thai Forest Bull. (Bot.) 20: 65. 1993, in part.

Mon, 2011-10-17 09:39 -- Esmond
Merremia thorelii

Author:
G. Staples
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
Common names and uses:
Chingcho sai (Thai).
Author:
G. Staples
Distribution:

China (Guangxi), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.

Ecology:

Open
situations in deciduous forest, dipterocarp forest, Melaleuca scrub, on sandstone substrate (always?) or in rice fields
on canal banks; altitude: c. 150–780 m.

Populations
observed in Phu Jong Na Yoi National Park, Thailand, were found on sandstone
rock substrate, which is flooded during the rainy season. As the rains end, M. thorelii flowers, with the prostrate
stems often lying across ground saturated with water. In several cases, plants
were observed growing in standing or slow-flowing water that was draining
across the exposed rock surfaces.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flower sepals lanceolate to oblong, subequal, 10–15 mm, outer 3 glandular-hirsute outside, acute to attenuate, inner glabrous, apex obtusish; corolla funnelform, 2.5–3 cm, pale yellow, glabrous, tube base slightly curved, limb shallowly 5-lobed; stamens included, unequal, filaments fimbriate-scaly basally, anthers twisted; pistil included, ovary glabrous (or hirsute).
Fruits:
Capsule ovoid, c. 10 mm, glabrous (or hirsute).
Habit:
Perennial herbaceous trailers; axial parts, foliage, calyx rather densely hirsute, viscid; stems prostrate, 1–2 m, tips twining.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescences usually 1(–3)-flowered; peduncle 1.2–5.5 cm; bracts 2, falcate, 2–11 mm.
Infraspecific Characters:

One Thai specimen (T. Wongprasert s.n., BKF123840) from Ubon Ratchathani differs in its subcaudate outer sepals with a few rounded warts on the back among the hairs, the pilose ovary and capsule, and the smaller (2–3 cm long), ovate leaves. It may represent an infraspecific variant, or possibly a hybrid with M. verruculosa, with its distinctive warty calyx.

Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Merremia thorelii (Gagnep.) Staples in Staples & Traiperm, Thai Forest Bull. (Bot.) 36: 98. 2008.

Leaves:
Leaves narrowly ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 1.8–6.5 by 0.8–3.8 cm, upper side sparsely hirsute, underside densely so, base emarginate to shallowly cordate, margin entire, ciliate, apex obtuse, mucronulate; petioles 0.3–1.2 cm.
Phenology:

Flowering: August—November; fruiting: November.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Seeds:
Seeds ellipsoid-trigonous, 3–4.5 mm, blackish, glabrous.
Synonyms:

Ipomoea thorelii Gagnep., Not. Syst. 3: 148. 1915.

Merremia collina S.Y. Liu, Guihaia 4: 199. 1984.

Mon, 2011-10-17 09:23 -- Esmond
Merremia subsessilis

Author:
G. Staples
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
General comments:

An easily recognized species, M. subsessilis is distinctive for the lax panicles with a clasping, foliose bract at the apex of the peduncle and for the curved corolla tube that gives the whole flower a slightly zygomorphic aspect.

Common names and uses:
Ching cho bai rua (Thai).
Author:
G. Staples
Distribution:

Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.

Ecology:

Sunny clearings in
dry dipterocarp forest, mixed pine-dipterocarp forest, secondary scrub, often
twining through grasses, usually on sandy soils; altitude: 200–850 m.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flowers weakly zygomorphic; sepals elliptic, unequal, outer 5–7 by 3 mm, inner c. 10 by 5 mm, all obtuse, outside glabrous, warty, in fruit inside dark-dotted; corolla funnelform, c. 2 cm long, pale yellow, tube slightly curved, limb 0.8–1 cm diam., weakly 5-lobed; stamen filaments c. 6 mm long, base dilated, papillose; anthers oblong, 4 mm long, spirally twisted at dehiscence; ovary attenuate-ovoid, 2-celled, glabrous.
Fruits:
Capsule globose, c. 10 mm diam., 2-valved, enclosed in slightly enlarged sepals.
Habit:
Perennial herbaceous twiner; stems 1–2 m, glabrous.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescence axillary, cymose, 1–3-flowered; peduncles up to 2 cm long, emerging between basal leaf lobes; bracts opposite, lanceolate-ovate, 1–5 mm long, sessile; pedicels 10 mm long, thicker apically.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Merremia subsessilis (Courchet & Gagnep.) Nguyen Thi Nhan in Averyanov et al., Vascular plants synopsis of Vietnamese flora. 183. 1990.

Leaves:
Leaves ovate-acuminate to oblong, membranaceous, 3–6 by 3–4 cm, base cordate, lobes semiorbicular, overlapping; lateral nerves 5–7 either side; petiole 0.4–0.7 cm long, glabrous.
Phenology:

Flowering: October—December; fruiting: August, October–December.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Seeds:
Seeds ovoid, 4–5 mm long, glabrescent.
Synonyms:

Ipomoea subsessilis Courchet & Gagnep., Not. Syst. 3: 148. 1915.

Misapplied name: Merremia collina authors not S.Y. Liu: e.g., Songkhla & Khunwasi, Thai Forest Bull. (Bot.) 20: 34–35. 1993

Mon, 2011-10-17 09:09 -- Esmond
Merremia peltata

Author:
G. Staples
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
General comments:

Merremia peltata is becoming a serious weed in the Pacific, where it has been introduced to some islands where it is not native, and on islands where it is native human disturbance has allowed the species to aggressively take over places opened up to sunlight.

In natural vegetation, M. peltata is a rampant climber, covering the canopies of the tallest forest trees; it also grows in cleared areas, covering large expanses of bare ground.

Common names and uses:
Yaan en luang (ex Niyomdham 2291), yan khi duean, yan len, en luen (Smitinand 2001).
Author:
G. Staples
Distribution:

Widespread from tropical eastern Africa, Madagascar, Indian Ocean and Andaman Islands, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Australia (Queensland), Pacific Islands.

Ecology:

Margins
of evergreen forests, scrub; altitude: 1–150 m.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flowers showy; sepals subequal, outer 3 broadly ovate, 18–25 mm, inner 2 ovate-oblong, thinner, all obtuse, mucronulate; corolla broadly funnelform, 4–6 cm long, bright yellow, limb shallowly lobed; stamens included, filaments hairy below insertion, anthers spirally twisted, apex hair-tufted; pistil included, ovary glabrous.
Fruits:
Capsule broadly ovoid, 25–30 mm long, valves splitting lengthwise into several segments.
Habit:
Liana to 30 m high; stems terete, glabrous.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescence corymbose, to 40 cm long, usually many-flowered; peduncles 1 or 2, 5–15 cm, stout; bracts deciduous; pedicels 15–25 mm, thickened apically.
Infraspecific Characters:

In Malesia, corolla color varies from pure white to vivid yellow, with several intermediate shade of yellow in between. While most populations are homogeneous in flower color, in rare instances both color forms can be found in the same tree-top.

Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Merremia peltata (L.) Merr., Interpret. Rumph. Herb. Amb. 441. 1917.

Leaves:
Leaves peltate (small leaves below inflorescence sometimes not), broadly ovate to orbicular, 7–30 cm long, base rounded or retuse, apex acuminate or abruptly cuspidate, glabrous; lateral veins 7–10 either side; petiole slender, 3–20 cm, glabrous.
Phenology:

Flowering: February—April, October–December; fruiting: May.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Johnson, R. W. Austrobaileya 8: 55–63. 2009

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Seeds:
Seeds trigonous, c. 6–8 mm long, densely brown hairy, margins long tomentose.
Synonyms:

Convolvulus peltatus L., Sp. Pl. 1194. 1753.

Ipomoea peltata (L.) Choisy, Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 6: 452. 1834.

Ipomoea nymphaeifolia Blume, Bijdr. 719. 1825.

Merremia nymphaeifolia (Blume) Hallier f., Versl. ‘s Lands Pl.-tuin 1895: 127. 1896.

Mon, 2011-10-17 08:44 -- Esmond
Merremia mammosa

Author:
G. Staples
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
Common names and uses:
Hua lan chon kan (Thai). The tubers are edible and used medicinally in Java.
Author:
G. Staples
Distribution:

India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia.

Ecology:

Rampant climber forming vine blankets over
trees, thickets, along roadsides in mixed deciduous forest, on limestone;
altitude: 110–400 m.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flower sepals subequal, concave, outer 3 broadly ovate to broadly elliptic, 24–36 mm long, apex obtuse, inner 2 narrower, all glabrous, venose, accrescent and persistent in fruit; corolla broadly funnelform, 7–8 cm long, white, tube base yellow inside, glabrous (no apical hair tufts!), minutely gland-dotted outside; stamens included, filament bases hairy, anthers spirally twisted; pistil included, disc cupular, 3 mm long, ovary glabrous.
Fruits:
Capsule enclosed by persistent calyx, 4-valved, brown.
Habit:
Liana with perennial, fasciculate tubers to 25 cm long; stems 5–15 m, fistulose, glabrous.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescence axillary, cymose, 3–30-flowered; peduncle terete, 3–15 cm long; bracts 7–10 mm, deciduous; pedicels 12–15 mm long, thickened apically.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Merremia mammosa (Lour.) Hallier f., Teysmannia 7: 164. 1897.

Leaves:
Leaves orbicular to transversely elliptic, 6–12 by 5–15 cm, base cordate, apex abruptly acuminate, mucronulate; lateral veins 7–9 per side; petiole slender, 6–10 cm long.
Phenology:

Flowering: August–November.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Seeds:
Seeds c. 8 mm long, grey-black, margins long-hairy.
Synonyms:

Convolvulus mammosus Lour., Fl. Cochin. 108. 1790.

Ipomoea mammosa (Lour.) Choisy, Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 6: 475. 1834.

Ipomoea gomezii C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 4: 211. 1883, in part.

Mon, 2011-10-17 08:26 -- Esmond
Merremia kingii

Author:
G. Staples
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
General comments:

Prain, in the protologue, cited numerous specimens from Assam, Khasia Hills, Naga Hills, Shan Hills, Bhutan, and Sikkim; under the current Code of Nomenclature these would all be considered syntypes. Typification of this name is problematic and requires study of the original material in Calcutta, not presently available. Duplicates for some of the collections Prain cited are present in Kew (isosyntypes) and have been examined. Where corolla colour is mentioned on the labels these report only white flowers. Thai specimens agree with these isosyntypes but corolla colours from white to cream to pale yellowish and even yellow are reported. Probably M. kingii is variable in flower colour, like others in Merremia sect. Xanthips. Species delimitation between M. kingii, M. bambusetorum, and M. umbellata remains ambiguous.

Common names and uses:
Common names and uses. Chingcho doi (Thai).
Author:
G. Staples
Distribution:

India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand.

Ecology:

In clearings, open spaces along streams,
roadsides in evergreen and deciduous forests; altitude: 400–1400 m.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flower sepals unequal, deeply concave, broadly elliptic to narrowly obovate, 16–21 mm long, medially coriaceous, margins thinner, apex rounded or obtuse, persistent and reflexed in fruit; corolla funnelform, 3.8–5.3(–6.3) cm long, white to pale yellowish, tube base cylindrical, flaring abruptly, limb c. 5 cm diam., 5-lobed, minutely hair-tufted on lobe tips, otherwise glabrous; stamens unequal, filaments sparsely pilose below insertion, anthers opening lengthwise, hair-tufted apically.
Fruits:
Capsules ovoid-conical, 10–12 mm long, dark brown, glabrous.
Habit:
Perennial climber; stems terete.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescence lax, a cymose panicle, usually 5–12-flowered; peduncles 5–15 cm long, glabrous; lower bracts foliose; pedicels clavate, 25–50 mm long, flanged and minutely verrucose apically, grooved between pedicel apex and sepal bases.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Merremia kingii (Prain) Kerr, Fl. Siam. 3(2): 5. 1954.

Leaves:
Leaves ovate, 9–14 by 5–8.8 cm, glabrous or sparsely hairy along veins underneath, base cordate, apex attenuate-acuminate; petiole 2.5–10 cm, puberulous, base with 2 subulate pseudostipules, 2–3 mm long.
Phenology:

Flowering: January–March, November; fruiting: February, May, November.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Seeds:
Seeds subglobose-trigonous, c. 6–7 mm long, brownish hairy.
Synonyms:

Ipomoea kingii Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 63(2): 110. 1894.

Ipomoea cymosa var. macra C.B.Clarke in Hook., Fl. Brit. India 4: 212. 1885.

Mon, 2011-10-17 08:18 -- Esmond
Merremia bambusetorum

Author:
G. Staples
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
Author:
Staples, G.
Distribution:

China (Yunnan), Thailand, Vietnam.

Ecology:

In open situations, roadsides, or margins
of tropical rain forest, gallery forest, bamboo thickets, and shrub thickets,
often along streams or near waterfalls; altitude: 120–810 m.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flower sepals subequal, deeply concave, glabrous, outer broadly elliptic, 9.5–12 by 7–8 mm, apex broadly rounded to subtruncate, midvein dark, keeled, ending in mucro, inner sepal margins hyaline; corolla tubular-funnelform, 2.9–4.2 cm long, yellow, limb 5-pointed, points minutely hair-tufted outside, otherwise glabrous; stamens included, papillose below filament insertion, anthers 4 mm long, opening lengthwise; pistil included, 16–18 mm, glabrous, ovary conical.
Fruits:
Capsules ellipsoid-conical, c. 12–15 mm long, brown, glabrous, base cupped by persistent calyx.
Habit:
Perennial twiner; stems 2–5 m, glabrous.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescence axillary, usually 1–5-flowered; peduncles 3–4.5 cm, glabrous; bracts minute; pedicels 10–16 mm, thicker apically.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Merremia bambusetorum Kerr, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1941: 18. 1941.

Leaves:
Leaves oblong-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 5.5–13.2 by 1.7–5.5 cm, glabrous or underside finely puberulent along veins, base cordate, lobes rounded or angulate-dentate, apex acuminate, mucronulate; lateral veins 7–9 per side; petiole 0.8–1.2 cm, base with 2 tiny pseudostipules.
Phenology:

Flowering: January, August, October–December; fruiting: January, October.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

References:

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Seeds:
Seeds globose-trigonous, 4–5 mm long, densely yellowish hairy.

Mon, 2011-10-17 07:01 -- Esmond

Search form

You are here

Pages