Turbina corymbosa (L.) Raf., Convolvulaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Convolvulus corymbosus L.; Ipomoea burmannii Choisy; Rivea corymbosa (L.) Hallier f.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Christmas pops, Christmas vine, ololiuqui, snakeplant, turbina

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Scrambling twiner with slender thinly pubescent stems to 8 m or more high; leaves ovate, acute or shortly acuminate, openly cordate or sinus rounded, up to c (-7) cm long and broad; inflorescence repeatedly branched and many-flowered, corymbose; sepals lanceolate, acute or obtuse, hyaline-margined, 5-9 mm long; corolla white with pewter-grey coloration at base outside, dark purplish-red inside, 2-3 cm long, fragrant; capsule ellipsoid, beaked, 8-10 mm long; seed hairy" (Adams, 1972; p. 614).

Habitat/ecology:  Often planted as an ornamental. Naturalizes in rainforest edges and riparian vegetation where it can smother trees and other vegetation. A prolific seed producer (Csurhes and Edwards, 1998; p. 132).

Propagation:  Seed, dispersed by birds and water (Csurhes and Edwards, 1998; p. 132).

Native range:  Tropical America.

Presence:

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	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 132)
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)

Comments:  Behavior is similar to Thunbergia grandiflora (Humphries and Stanton, 1992; p. 36).

Additional information:
Additional online information about Turbina corymbosa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Turbina corymbosa as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Turbina corymbosa may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

Other Latin names:  Convolvulus corymbosus L.; Ipomoea burmannii Choisy; Rivea corymbosa (L.) Hallier f.

References:

Adams, C. D. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica. University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. 848 pp.

Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. 1998. Potential environmental weeds in Australia: Candidate species for preventative control. Canberra, Australia. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. 208 pp.

Humphries, S. E./Stanton, J. P. 1992. Weed assessment in the wet tropics world heritage area of north Queensland. Report to The Wet Tropics Management Agency. 75 pp. plus plates.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2009. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.