Xenostegia tridentata (L.) D. F. Austin & Staples, Convolvulaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Convolvulus tridentatus L.; Ipomoea angustifolia Jacq.; Merremia tridentata (L.) Hallier f.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: African morningvine

Palauan: kebeas

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Herbs repent or twining, with a stout root. Stems wiry, to 4 m, ± angular to narrowly winged, glabrous. Petiole 1-3 mm or absent; leaf blade narrowly oblong, linear-oblong, to linear, dilated toward base, 2.5-8 cm x 4-15 mm, subglabrous, base hastate, ± clasping stem, basal lobes dentate, gradually attenuate to apex, apex acute or obtuse, mucronulate. Cymes 1-3-flowered; peduncle (1-)5-6 cm, slender, pubescent basally, glabrescent distally; bracts minute, subulate. Pedicel 6-8 mm. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, equal in length or outer 2 shorter, 6-8 mm, glabrous, apex attenuate-acuminate forming a sharp point. Corolla pale yellowish or white, with or without a maroon to brown center, funnelform, ca. 1.6 cm, glabrous outside. Stamens included, ± equal; filaments sparsely pubescent basally; anthers ellipsoid-sagittate. Ovary glabrous. Capsule globose or ovoid, papery. Seeds blackish, 3-4 mm, glabrous, apex acute"  (Flora of China).

"A very variable polymorphic perennial. Stems prostrate or twining up to 2 m. long, glabrous or hairy, slender, subterete to angular, striate-ribbed. Leaf lamina linear or lanceolate to oblong, 2-8ú5 x 0ú1-2ú3 cm., more or less obtuse, acuminate to emarginate, mucronulate at the apex, hastate or auriculate at the base, with the lobes often one-several-toothed, glabrous or hairy; petiole 0-3 mm. long. Inflorescence one-few-flowered; peduncle very slender 1-6 cm. long; bracteoles minute, lanceolate or cuspidate, persistent; pedicels thickened upwards, 4-17 mm. long, sometimes winged and crisped. Sepals subequal, oblong or lanceolate, 4-10 mm. long, the outer 2 usually shorter, obtuse or subacute to attenuate-acuminate, cuspidate or mucronate, sometimes winged and crisped. Corolla pale yellow, cream, green or white, often with a darker reddish or brownish centre, funnel-shaped, 10-18 mm. long; limb shallowly 5-lobed with more or less broadly triangular acute lobes and midpetaline areas well defined. Capsule globose to ovoid with papery valves, straw-coloured. Seeds 4 or fewer yellowish brown to dark greyish brown, glabrous." (JStor's Global Plants entry for Xenostegia tridentata)

Habitat/ecology:  In China, "Sandy fields near the coast, cultivated areas, wasteland, roadsides, forest openings; 0-300 m"  (Flora of China).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Africa, Asia, Australia; possibly into Micronesia (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 227) As Merremia tridentata (L.) Hall. f. ssp. hastata v. Ooststr.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 6) Voucher: Lorence 9906 (PTBG, BNM, NY)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 199) Taxon name on voucher: Xenostegia tridentata (L.) D. F. Austin & Staples
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		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 361) As Merremia hastata. In open grasslands at low altitudes, usually common.

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)	Northern Territory	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
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)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 187) As Merremia tridentata Hall. subsp. hastata (Desr.) Ooststr.
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	native	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 91) Common
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)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Xenostegia tridentata, please let us know.