Merremia peltata

Nomenclature

Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

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

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.

Description

Habit:

Liana to 30 m high; stems terete, glabrous.

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.

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.

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.

Seeds:

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

Author:

G. Staples

References:

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

Biogeography, Ecology and Natural History

Distribution Map:

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.

Phenology:

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

Author:

G. Staples

References:

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

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

Other information

Common names and uses:

Yaan en luang (ex Niyomdham 2291), yan khi duean, yan len, en luen (Smitinand 2001).

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.

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.

Authorship for webpage

Editor:

George Staples, Esmond Er

Contributors:

Convolvulaceae Unlimited

Convolvulaceae

Merremia peltata

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