Argyreia choisyana Wight var. wightii C.B.Clarke

P. R., Lawand & Shimpale, V. B., 2024, Revision of the genus Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from India, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 337-396 : 368-369

Argyreia choisyana Wight var. wightii C.B.Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 190. 1883. Argyreia kondaparthiensis P.Daniel & Vajr. , var. wightii (C.B. Clarke) Parmar in J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 18: 251. 1994. Type: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, At the foot hills of Conda Party [Kondaparthy], s.d., R. Wight s.n. (K [K000830720 digital image!]). Fig. 8.

A moderate height twiner or a prostrate shrub;

older stems semiwoody, 0.7–1 cm in diam.,

herbaceous towards the tip, white appressed strigose, green, terete. Leaf lamina, lanceolate or lance-ovate, 5–8 × 1.5–3.5 cm, apex round or acute, base rounded or obtuse, densely white strigose abaxially, sparsely strigose adaxially, secondary veins 6–7 pairs, conspicuous abaxially; petiole

1–2 cm long, dorsally grooved, shorter than the peduncle, white appressed strigose. Inflorescence axillary 1–3-flowered cyme; peduncles 3–5 cm

long, usually longer than the petiole. Flower bracteate, pedicellate; pedicels 3–4 mm long, hairy like stem. Bracts–2, narrowly oblong, lanceolate,

1–2 × 0.2–0.4 cm, apex acute, white strigose outer, sparsely strigose inner. Sepals 5, free, linear, sub equal, 1–1.5 cm long, apex acute, persistent, white appressed strigose except on overlapped portions,

glabrous inner. Corolla infundibuliform, 5–5.5 cm long, 4.5–5.5 cm across, rose colored with purple throat, throat c. 1 cm wide, hairy outer on midpetaline bands, narrowed corolla tube base enveloped by calyx. Stamens 5, inserted c. 1 cm above on corolla tube, unequal, 3 short, 2 long; anthers 3–4 mm long, basifixed, arrow headed; filaments base dilated, glandular hairy. Ovary pale green, 4 celled; style c. 3 cm long, white; stigma biglobose, papillose. Berries with style base remnant, 2–4-seeded; seeds dull black, 7–9 mm, trigonal with visible hilum.

Flowering & Fruiting: Flowering from August to September and fruiting from October to December.

Habit: The plants found rooted under shrubs and trees, with branches extending outward to access light for flowering. They are primarily twiners, though they occasionally grow prostrate.

Distribution: India (Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu); Endemic to peninsular India.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘ kondaparthiensis ’ of this replacement name, is named after its type collection locality, Kondaparthy Hills, Andhra Pradesh.

Conservation Status: Data Deficient ( DD). No collection is available except type material .

Notes: Batatas choisyana (1841) of Wight was transferred to Argyreia , creating the combination Argyreia choisyana Wight ex C.B. Clarke (Fl. Brit. India 4: 190, 1883). However, this resulted in a later homonym of Argyreia choisyana Regel & Körn. (Index Seminum [St. Petersburg (Petropolitanus)] 40, 1858). A replacement name, Argyreia kondaparthiensis , was proposed by Daniel and Vajravelu (1982) as the valid name for this taxon.

Argyreia kondaparthiensis is closely allied to A. pilosa , sharing similarities in its prostrate or twining habit, ovate leaf shape, and yellow-colored berries. However, A. kondaparthiensis differs by possessing white indumentum on the abaxial leaf surface, 1–3 flowers per inflorescence, a shorter inflorescence, and lanceolate bracts.

Figures

Fig. 8. Type of Argyreia kOndaparthenSiS P.Daniel & Vajr.[© The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Reproduced with the consent of the Royal Botanic Gardens,Kew].