(L.) Merr., Convolvulaceae |
|
Present on Pacific Islands? yes
Primarily a threat at high elevations? no
Other Latin names: Convolvulus reptans L.
Common name(s): [more details]
Chinese: mao shan zhu cai |
Habit: vine
Description:
var. hirta: "A twining or prostrate herb; the prostrate specimens rooting at the nodes or sometimes at the internodes. Stems slender, 20-50 cm long, fililform, sparsely patently hirsute or glabrous. Leaves very variable in form, linear, linear-oblong, oblong-lanceolate, oblong to ovate-oblong or ovate, occasionally orbicular to subquadrate; the narrow leaves 3-6 by 1/3-1 cm, 5-12 times as long as broad, the broad ones 1 "-4 " by 4/5-2 " cm, 1-5 times as long as broad, rounded, truncate, more or less cordate or hastate at the base with small or large, obtuse, spreading or parallel basal lobes, obtuse to slightly emarginate and mucronulate at the apex, the surfaces glabrous or sparsely hairy beneath and along the margins, sometimes also above, rarely the indumentum is more developed, especially on stems, petioles, leafblades and basal part of peduncles; petiole short, (1-) 3-8 (-20) mm. Peduncles filiform, variable in length, 1-7 " cm, glabrous or with a few hairs near the base. Flowers 1 to few, mostly up to 4, in some specimens to 8; the ramifications of peduncle monochasial (racemelike and unilateral), or the first ramification dichasial and the subsequent ones monochasial. Pedicels 3-5 mm, glabrous. Bracts ovate, obtuse, 1-2 mm long, glabrous, persistent. Flower-buds oblong to elliptic, obtuse. Sepals glabrous, unequal, the 2 outer ones shorter, elliptic, obtuse, 3-4 mm long, the 3 inner oblong or elliptic-oblong, obtuse, 4 "-6 mm long; sepals slightly enlarged in fruit, to 6-7 mm, with more or less prominent nerves. Corolla broadly funnel-shaped, 1 "-2 cm long, pale-yellow or whitish, glabrous, midpetaline bands in dried state with distinct dark nerves. Filaments hairy at the base; anthers spirally twisted. Ovary glabrous, 2-celled. Capsule broadly ovoid to globular, with a tink papery wall, smooth, glabrous, crowned by the base of the style, ca 6 mm long, 1-celled, 4-valved. Seeds 4 or less, dark brown or black, glabrous or sparsely floccose at the margins and the hilum." (van Steenis, 1954)
var. retusa: "Differs from var. hirta by having the inner sepals broader, broadly elliptic to subquadrate, with a truncate to retuse, mucronulate apex, and the outer ones elliptic, obtuse to acutish, mucronulate. Leaves oblong, 4/5-2 " cm long, hastate at the base, with entire or 1-2-dentate lobes, obtuse to subretuse and mucronulate at the apex. Peduncles short, to 1 cm long, 1- or sometimes 2-3-flowered" (van Steenis, 1954; pp. 442-443).
Habitat/ecology: "In open grasslands, along waysides, in dry rice-fields, from sea level to 1100 m" (van Steenis, 1954; pp. 442-443).
Propagation: Seed
Native range: var. hirta: India to southern China, Thailand and tropical Australia, throughout Malaysia.
var. retusa: Philippines (Luzon). (van Steenis, 1954; pp. 442-443).
Presence:
Pacific | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Papua New Guinea
Bismarck Archipelago |
Bismarck Archipelago |
Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 469)
In Imperata grassland; not common. |
|
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island) |
Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Philippines
Philippine Islands |
Philippine Islands |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Philippines
Philippine Islands |
Philippine Islands |
native
|
Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 361-362)
In open grasslands at low altitudes. |
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands |
Solomon Islands |
native
|
Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 91) |
Pacific Rim | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Queensland |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Cambodia
Cambodia |
Cambodia (Kingdom of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
China
China |
China (People's Republic of) |
native
|
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
"Open grasslands, cultivated fields, roadsides, thickets, forest margins; 0-1000 m". Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan. |
China
China |
Hong Kong |
native
|
Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 224)
On grassland and margin of forests. |
Indonesia
Indonesia |
Indonesia (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Malaysia
Malaysia |
Malaysia (country of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Singapore
Singapore |
Singapore (Republic of) |
uncertain if introduced
invasive |
Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 60)
Weed of uncertain origin |
Taiwan
Taiwan Island |
Taiwan Island |
native
|
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
"Open grasslands, cultivated fields, roadsides, thickets, forest margins; 0-1000 m". |
Thailand
Thailand |
Thailand (Kingdom of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Vietnam
Vietnam |
Vietnam (Socialist Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Control: If you know of control methods for Merremia hirta, please let us know.