Convolvulus speciosus

P. R., Lawand & Shimpale, V. B., 2024, Revision of the genus Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from India, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 337-396 : 374-375

Convolvulus speciosus L.f., Suppl. Pl.: 137. 1782. Ipomoea speciosa (L.f.) Pers., Syn. Pl. 1: 183. 1805. Argyreia speciosa (L.f.) Sweet, Hort. Brit. 289: 1826. Samudra speciosa (L.f.) Raf., Fl. Tellur. 4: 72. 1838. Type: [cultivated] “Hort. Ups. e sem. Brasilienss” anno 1778, Convolvulus 218.23 (LINN). Fig. 10a–e

Perennial, laticiferous, semi-woody climber; stems twining, old stems warty, 1–1.5 cm in diam., exudes milky latex, whitish tomentose, young stem herbaceous towards apex. Leaf lamina ovate to widely ovate, 15–25 × 15–20 cm, base cordate, apex acute, upper surface glabrous, lower surface shining white tomentose, secondary veins 20–22 pairs, prominently raised beneath; petiole 10–15 cm long, terete, white tomentose as stem. Inflorescence sub-capitate cymes, 6–9-flowered; peduncle white tomentose, 20–25 cm long, terete, longer than the petiole. Flower bracteate, subsessile. Bract 3, variously twisted, 2–3 cm long, white in color, caducous, reticulately veined. Sepals 5, 1–1.5 cm; outer two widely ovate; inner three ovate, white tomentose outside, glabrous inside, inner sepals glabrous on overlapped area, sepals enlarge and become leathery in fruiting. Corolla campanulate, whitish hairy outer, pink inside; throat purple, 4–5 cm long, 4–5 cm as wide, throat 1–1.2 cm wide. Stamens 5, unequal, 2–2.5 cm long; filaments white, base spreading, glandular hairy; anthers 3–4 mm long, white. Ovary glabrous 2–4 locular; stigma biglobose white; style–1, white. Berries brown, dry, 1–2 cm diam.

Flowering & Fruiting: Flowering from July to December and fruiting from October to March.

Habitat: This species grows naturally and also cultivated in gardens throughout India.

Distribution: India, Sri Lanka , Australia, Thailand, Myanmar and cultivated throughout Asian countries.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘ nervosa’ attribute to hallucinogenic properties induced by its seeds. This property is cause of accumulation of ergoline alkaloids particularly Lysergic acid amides in seeds ( Schiff, 2006).

Specimens examined: INDIA, Andaman Islands, South Andaman, Minnie Bay , 11.11.1893, s.coll .

310377 (CAL). Andhra Pradesh, Srikakulam District, Salur Forest, s.d., N.P. Balakrishnan 1053

(CAL); Talbada Gedda, 17.04.1976, G. V. Subba Rao

47379 (CAL); Nellore District, Durgam, Udaygiri,

28.08.1917, C. E. C. Fischer 4148 ( CAL); Nellore

District, Udayagiri, 31.07.1914, M. S. Ramaswami

1424 (CAL); East Godavari District, Maredumilli,

Near Tiger Camp, 18.02.1994, M. Mohanan 101284

( DRC); Koornool District , Pacheruvu, 28.09.1986 ,

V. B. Hosagoudar 83950 ( DRC); Anantpur District,

Penukonda Hills, 27.10.2006, D. Alimaulali 451

( DRC); Chittoor District , Tirumalai, 18.10.1969 ,

G. V. Subba Rao 13941 ( MH); Maredumilli,

Chinthiru, 16.10.1994, M . Mohanan 102509 ( MH);

Kurnool District , Srisailam, 15.07.1963, J. L. Ellis

16878 ( MH); Anantapur, Penukonda Hills, July

1884, J. S. Gamble 15238 ( MH); Visakhapatnam

District, near Borra caves, 20.09.2018, P. R. Lawand

055 ( NCK). Assam, Kamal ganj, Sylhet, s.d., s. coll . 16585 (ASSAM). Goa, North Goa, Usgaon , 08.10.1964, R . S . Raghavan 103427 ( BSI) . Gujarat, Junagadh District, Junagadh , 21.07.1957, G . S .

Puri 22173 ( BSI). Jharkhand, Godda District, Korandi River valley, East of Dodhari , 09.12.1962 ,

V. S. Rao 30142 (ASSAM) . Maharashtra, Raigad District, Uran , 05.09.1960 , P. Divakar 1368

( BLAT); Mumbai District, Borivali, on the road to

Kanheri caves, 10.08.1954, U. M . Patel 738 ( BLAT);

Mumbai District , Mahakali Caves, 20.11.1954 ,

U. M. Patel 966 ( BLAT); Pune District, Mutha

River Side , 09.04.1955, V . D. Vartak 654 ( BSI) ;

Kolhapur District, on the way to Hatkanangale,

July 2016, P. R . Lawand 019 ( NCK). Manipur, Imphal, Chingmeirong, s.d., D. B . Deb 109 ( CAL).

Meghalaya, East Khasi Hills District, Khasi Hills, Nongkhlaw , 24.08.1976, G. H. Bhandari

60409 (ASSAM). Odisha, Hergaon, 8.11.1959, G. Panigrahi 20857 (ASSAM); Ganjam District ,

Ganjam , Bhallary forest, 18.07.1996, J. K. Das &

Party 22755 ( CAL); Ganjam District, Ganjam,

Arka, December 1883, J. S . Gamble 13640 ( CAL);

Ganjam District , Askar, December 1883, J. S .

Gamble 13640 ( MH). Karnataka, North Kanara District, Carwar , September 1892, W. A. Talbot

9122 ( BSI); Hassan District , Hassan, 25.11.1958 ,

B. M. Wadhava (44678 ( BSI); Gulbarga District,

Kamalapur, September 1910, A. Meebold 13905

( CAL). Kerala, Kollam District, Arian Kavu , 09.05.1961, K . N . Subramanian 71527 ( BSI) ;

Thiruvananthapuram District, Kallar, 28.07.1971,

V. V. Sivarajan 1342 ( CALI). Rajasthan, Bhilwara District, Mandal , 07.10.1978 , A. N. Singh 5764

( CAL). Tamil Nadu, Mysore, Ramanahalli , 08.06.1957, G . S . Puri 10865 ( BSI); Tirunelveli

District, Shencottai, 21.03.1915, C. C. Calder

1336 ( CAL). Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad District , Allahabad, 17.08.1964, H. S. Pandey 11474 ( DRC) .

Vernacular names: Samudrashok (Marathi); Murva (Kerala); Elephant Creeper , Silver Morning Glory , Hawaiian Baby Woodrose, Wooly Morning Glory (English) .

Notes: Argyreia nervosa shares morphological similarities with A. cymosa due to variously twisted bracts but that of A. nervosa are longer and larger in size. The fruits A. nervosa , A. cuneata and A. fulgens are brown, dry berry. Regarding to its leaf morphology it can be said allied to A. wallichi var. coriacea C.B. Clarke. The species stands apart from other related species through its white colored variously twisted bracts, wider corolla tube, corolla white in color outside and brown colored dry berries.

Figures

Fig. 10. Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Bojer (a-e):a. Habit;b. Leaf abaxial surface;c. Flower with bracts;d. Bracts;e. Infructescence. Argyreia osyrensis (Roth ex Roem. & Schult.) Choisy (f-i): f. Flowering twig; g. A flower; h. Sepals; i. Infructescence. Argyreia pilosa Wight & Arn. (j-n): j. Habit;k. Inflorescence; l. Bracts;m. Sepals; n. Infructescence.