Merremia vitifolia

Nomenclature

Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Merremia vitifolia (Burm. f.) Hallier f., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 16: 552. 1893.

Synonyms:

Convolvulus vitifolius Burm. f., Fl. Indica 45. 1768

Convolvulus angularis Burm.f., Fl. Ind. 46, t. 18, f. 1. 1768.

Ipomoea vitifolia (Burm.f.) Blume, Bijdr. 709. 1825.

Ipomoea vitifolia var. angularis (Burm.f.) Choisy in DC., Prodr. 9: 361. 1845.

Description

Habit:

Herbs, twining or prostrate; axial parts spreading hirsute with yellowish hairs, or glabrous. Stems purplish, terete; older stems striate, to 4 m.

Leaves:

Petiole 1–3(–19) cm; leaf blade circular in outline, (2.5–)5–18 × (2.5–)4–15.5 cm, base cordate, palmately (3–)5–7-angled or lobed; lobes broadly triangular or ovate-lanceolate, ± yellowish appressed hirtellous, abaxial surface more densely so, margin coarsely serrate or nearly entire, apex acuminate to obtuse.

Inflorescences:

Inflorescences 1–3- or several flowered; peduncle 2–5(–15) cm; bracts subulate, 1.5–2 mm. Pedicel 1–1.6 cm, thicker distally.

Flowers:

Sepals oblong or ovate-oblong, 1.4–1.8 cm, enlarged in fruit, ± leathery, ± shiny, pitted adaxially, pellucid glandular, apex obtuse or ± acute; outer sepals hirsute abaxially; inner sepals glabrous. Corolla yellow, paler in tube, funnelform, 2.5–5.5 cm, glabrous outside; limb ± 5-angled. Stamens ca. 1.1 cm; anthers spirally twisted. Ovary glabrous.

Fruits:

Capsule straw-colored, ± globose, ca. 1.2 cm, papery.

Seeds:

Seeds black-brown, trigonous-ovoid, ca. 7 mm, glabrous.

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:

China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan), India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.

Ecology:

China: Roadsides, thickets,
forests; (100–)400–1600 m.

Thailand: Sunny areas and
clearings in thickets and forest, secondary vegetation, cleared areas, fields,
roadsides, reported on limestone-derived soil; altitude: 80–1200 m.

Phenology:

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

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.

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

Other information

Common names and uses:

zhang ye yu huang cao (Chinese). Used medicinally to treat bladder infections and stomach aches. Chingcho khon, chingcho luang, chingcho lueang, chingcho yai, chiang cho lueang, chi cho (Thai).

Authorship for webpage

Editor:

George Staples, Esmond Er

Contributors:

Convolvulaceae Unlimited

Convolvulaceae

Merremia vitifolia

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