Argyreia formosana
Nomenclature
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:
Argyreia formosana Ishigami ex Yamazaki, J. Jap. Bot. 44(5): 160. 1969.
Synonyms:
Ipomoea tomentosa Yamamoto
Description
Habit:
Climbers, woody, with ± yellowish pubescent axial parts. Stems striate; young parts densely sericeous, later glabrate.
Leaves:
Petiole 1.5–8 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate-cordate, 6–11 × 5–9 cm, abaxial surface densely yellowish white sericeous-tomentose, adaxial surface glabrous, base shallowly cordate to ± truncate, apex acute to acuminate; lateral veins 7–12 pairs, prominent abaxially.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescences axillary, cymose, 4–6-flowered; peduncle 1.5–2 cm; bracts early deciduous, ovate, 4–6 mm. Pedicel 6–8 mm.
Flowers:
Sepals ovate-oblong, slightly concave, nearly equal, 6–8 × 3–5 mm, densely sericeous abaxially, glabrous adaxially, apex rounded to obtuse. Corolla deeply 5-lobed; tube ca. 5 mm; lobes oblong, reflexed, 1.3–1.5 cm, densely pilose outside, glabrous inside. Stamens and pistil exserted; filaments ca. 1 cm; anthers 3–4 mm. Ovary ovoid, glabrous, 2-loculed; style filiform, ca. 1.5 cm; stigma 2-lobed.
Fruits:
Fruit reddish, globose.
Seeds:
Seeds 4 or fewer, ovoid-trigonous.
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:
![](https://convolvulaceae.myspecies.info/sites/convolvulaceae.myspecies.info/files/Argyreia%20formosana.png)
Distribution:
China (S Taiwan). Apparently endemic in Kaohsiung, Pingtung Xian.
Ecology:
Forests.
Phenology:
Flw. Oct, frt. Jan.
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
Common names and uses:
tai wan yin bei teng (Chinese).
Authorship for webpage
Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Contributors:
![](https://convolvulaceae.myspecies.info/sites/convolvulaceae.myspecies.info/files/Logo%20_%20SBG_136.jpg)
Apparently endemic to Taiwan and known only from a few collections, this species was not treated in the Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. and was considered a synonym of Argyreia obtusifolia Lour. in the Flora of Taiwan (4: 348. 1978). Loureiro's name has been widely misapplied to various taxa in China and throughout southeast Asia, and his protologue is so vague that it is impossible to say to which, if any of them, the name should correctly be applied. The few Taiwan specimens seen seem to be quite distinct from all mainland Chinese and southeast Asian ones, and the prudent course seems to be to recognize them under Yamazaki's name until a careful study of more material, including type specimens, can be undertaken.