Argyreia cymosa (Roxb.) Sweet, Hort. Brit.

P. R., Lawand & Shimpale, V. B., 2024, Revision of the genus Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from India, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 337-396 : 355-358

11. Argyreia cymosa (Roxb.) Sweet, Hort. Brit. 289. 1826. Lettsomia cymosa Roxb., Fl. Ind. 2: 82. 1824. Type: INDIA, West Bengal, Cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden Calcutta, Roxburgh s.n. (holo K [K000857260 digital image!]). Fig. 5a–d

A shrubby climber. Stems hairy appressed strigose when young, semi-woody when old, glabrous, warty, slightly swollen at nodes. Leaf lamina orbicular to widely ovate, 6–9 × 6–9 cm, base cordate, lobes round, apex acute, secondary veins 6–7 pairs conspicuously raised beneath, strigose below, strigulose above; petiole green, hairy, terete, 4–6 cm long, shorter than the peduncle. Inflorescence axillary umbellate cyme, 9–15 flowered; peduncle hairy like petiole 5–8 cm long. Flowers shortly pedicellate; pedicel 1–3 mm long. Bracts 2–3, strigose outer, glabrous inside, green, twisted irregularly; outer large, widely elliptic,, 1.5–2.7 × 1–2.0 cm, apex acute, inner two bracts small 1–1.5 × 0.4–0.7 cm. Sepals unequal, persistent in fruit; outer 3 large, orbicular, 1.3–1.5 × 0.5–0.9 cm, variously twisted, strigose on both sides; inner two smaller, oblong,1.0–1.3 × 0.3–0.4 cm, hairy on non-overlapped parts, glabrous inside. Corolla infundibuliform; tube narrow, pale pink, 5.5–6 cm long, 4–4.5 cm across, petals twisted in bud, hairy on midpetaline bands. Stamens 5, slightly exserted or up to mouth of corolla tube, unequal 3.7–4.2 cm long; filaments white, glandular hairy at base; anthers 1–3 mm long, pale pink. Ovary glabrous; style single; stigma biglobose, pink. Berries globose, yellow, 1–1.5 cm across, 2–4-seeded. Seeds c. 1 cm long, white.

Flowering & Fruting: Flowering from September to October and fruiting from November to February.

Habitat: The species grows in dry deciduous forests in, open places with plenty of light.

Distribution: India: Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal. Myanmar and Nepal.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘ cymosa’ is cause of cymose inflorescence of the plant.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Nellore District, Kallurpad , 18.12.1917, C. E. C . Fischer 310645 ( CAL); East Godavari District, Polavaram , Godavari river , 25.11.1902, C. A .

Barber 4775 (MH [MH00139420]); Nallamalai,

way to upper Ahobilam , 22.11.1969, J. L. Ellis

32573 (MH [MH139419]); Visakhapatnam

District, Kishnadevipeta, 6.03.1915, s. collector

11695 (MH [MH00139418]); Visakhapatnam

District, Anakapalli, 26.01.1916, S. coll . 12521

(MH [MH00139416]); Godavari District,

Godavari river , February 1885, J. S. Gamble

16089 (MH00139413); Kadiri Kalasa Mudram

R. F., 19.11.1981 , N. Yesoda 645 ( MH00139411 ) ;

Kurnool, way to upper Ahobilam, 22.11.1969,

J.L. Ellis 32573 (MH); Chingleput District , Bunds of Vedanthangal, 25.01.1976 , A.N. Henry 47021

(MH). Madhya Pradesh, Chanda Dil , 23.01.1890, J . F . Duthie 310650 ( CAL) . Maharashtra, Ahmednagar District, Ahmednagar , s.d., R .D.

Acland 46330 (BLAT); Aurangabad District,

Khuladabad, Guest House to Maismall hills,

04.11.1961, Rolla S. Rao 36658 ( BSI); Akola District ,

Manarulpir, on way to wanoja, 30.11.1979, S. Y .

Kamble 105448 (BSI); Solapur District, Karmala,

Korti, 17.12.2011, J. Jayanthi & S. C. Yadav 132405

(BSI); Sangli District, On the way to Jat, October

2017, P.R. Lawand 009 (NCK). Tamil Nadu, Madras, Vaudolous Hills , 10.01.1958, Santapau

H.S.J, 46334 (BLAT); Madras, Vaudolous Hills,

10.01.1958, Santapau H . S .J. 46332 (BLAT);

Kistua District , Kenlarid, February 1890, J. S .

Gamble 6625 (BSI); Kancheepuram District,

Vedanthangal WLS, 25.01.1976, A. N. Henry 47021

(CAL); Kancheepuram District, Vedanthangal

WLS, 25.01.1976, A. N . Henry 47021 (MH

[MH00139430]); Chennai District, Vandalur,

Chingleput, 1915, S.coll . 11560 (MH00139423).

Telangana, Khammam District , Khammam to Dhanaiyaigudem, 03.01.1997, R. Rajan 108514

( DRC); Medak District , Pillutla R. F., 27.01.1998 ,

R. Gopalan 106785 ( DRC); Varangal District,

Kanapur, 24.11.1960, K. M . Sebastine 11576 ( MH

[ MH 00139404]); Vikarabad District, Ananthagiri

Hills forest , 700 m, August 2017, P. R. Lawand 038

( NCK). West Bengal, Purba Medinipur District , Digha, Midwapur Coast, 26.02.1965, T . A . Rao 2304 ( CAL); Purba Medinipur District, Digha , Midwapur Coast, 26.02.1965, T . A . Rao 2305 ( CAL); Hooghly District, Goghat , 23.11.1961, P . K . Hajra 827 ( CAL) .

Vernacular names: Nagar Mhaisvel (Marathi).

Notes: The species is characterized by peculiarly twisted bracts and sepals, resembling the bracts of Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Bojer. It also possesses a narrower corolla tube diameter compared to other Indian species of Argyreia .

The name was initially published by Roxburgh (1824) as Lettsomia cymosa , which was later transferred to Argyreia by Sweet (1826). Although some publications erronelusly attribute the name Argyreia cymosa to Choisy, it was Sweet who validly made the transfer earlier, in 1826.

Figures

Fig. 5. Argyreia CymOSa (Roxb.) Sweet (a-d): a. Habit; b. An inflorescence; c. Bracts; d. Sepals. Argyreia daltOnii C.B. Clarke (e-h): e. Habit;f. Leaf abaxial surface;g. Bracts;h. Sepals.Argyreia elliptiCa (Roth ex Roem.& Schult.) Choisy (i-l): i. Habit;j. Inflorescence; k. Sepals;l. Infructescence.