Lophospermum erubescens | |
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In cultivation | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Plantaginaceae |
Genus: | Lophospermum |
Species: | L. erubescens |
Binomial name | |
Lophospermum erubescens D.Don [1] | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Lophospermum erubescens, known as Mexican twist [2] or creeping gloxinia, [3] is a climbing or sprawling herbaceous perennial plant, native to the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains of Mexico, where it is found along forest margins or canyon walls. It climbs by means of twining leaf stalks. Wild plants have pink and white tubular flowers, although other colours are found in cultivation. It has been cultivated as an ornamental plant since at least 1830. Although not frost-hardy, it will survive if its base and roots are protected from freezing in the winter. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. [4]
Lophospermum erubescens has been confused with Lophospermum scandens , partly because the earliest illustration of L. erubescens was labelled as L. scandens. Among other differences, L. erubescens has a more climbing habit than L. scandens, with many twining leaf stalks; also the sepals are broader and joined at the base for only 2–3 mm (0.08–0.12 in) rather than 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in).
Despite the common name creeping gloxinia, it is not closely related to either the true Gloxinia species from South America, or the flowering houseplant commonly known as gloxinia, Sinningia speciosa .
Lophospermum erubescens is a climbing herbaceous perennial with fibrous roots. It climbs by means of twining leaf stalks (petioles) rather than tendrils or twining stems. The long stems are branched, becoming woody at the base with age and developing a woody caudex – a swollen, bulb-like structure at the base of the stem. The leaves have petioles 30–65 mm (1.2–2.6 in) long and are triangular or heart-shaped, 45–153 mm (1.8–6.0 in) long by 45–50 mm (1.8–2.0 in) wide, with a pointed apex and toothed edges (dentate or crenate). The leaves and stems are sparsely covered with short hairs. [5]
Lophospermum erubescens flowers and fruits over a long period, April to the following January in its native habitat. The flowers are borne singly. The calyx has sepals that are broadly ovate, 19–26 mm (0.7–1.0 in) long and 9–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide at the base, joined only for the first 2–3 mm (0.08–0.12 in). The sepal margins curve outwards along about a third or half their length. The flowers have five petals, joined at the base to form a tube 48–63 mm (1.9–2.5 in) long, whitish at the base and pinkish-red to red towards the end. The free lobes at the end of the petals bend outwards. There are two prominent folds (plicae) running along the length of the base of the flower tube, bearing numerous yellow hairs 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) long. There are four fertile stamens, the upper two slightly longer than the lower two, and one rudimentary infertile stamen. The style has a forked stigma. [5]
The ovary is covered with glandular hairs and has two chambers (locules). After fertilization, a more-or-less symmetrical globe-shaped capsule forms, filled with brown seeds, each with a circular "wing" around it. [5]
The earliest illustration of Lophospermum erubescens appeared in 1830 in The British Flower Garden. The plant was at first identified as the already known Lophospermum scandens and labelled as such. David Don later realized that it was a new species, and corrected the error in a subsequent note in The British Flower Garden, describing the illustrated plant as a new species, L. erubescens. [6] [7] Don did not explain the origin of the specific epithet, but erubescens means reddening or blushing in Latin. [8] Don's correction was not always noticed, with the result that the name L. scandens became associated with the illustration of L. erubescens, creating confusion between the two species. [9]
The distinction between the two species has not always been accepted. [6] Don distinguished L. erubescens from L. scandens by features such as the former's more triangular leaves with shorter hairs, and broader, less sharply pointed sepals. [7] Other differences are that L. erubescens has a more climbing habit than L. scandens, with many twining leaf stalks; the bases of the sepals are joined for only 2–3 mm (0.08–0.12 in) rather than 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in); and the folds (plicae) on the base of the inside of the flower tube bear hairs 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) rather than less than 1 mm (0.04 in) long. [5]
Lophospermum erubescens has previously been placed in other genera now considered distinct but related; for example in Maurandya by Samuel Frederick Gray and in Asarina by Francis Whittier Pennell. [5]
Lophospermum erubescens is native to the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains of Mexico where it is found at elevations between 1,000 and 2,200 m (3,300 and 7,200 ft). It grows in the margins of seasonally dry oak or oak- Liquidambar forests, including forest edges created by roads, or on canyon walls. [10]
Through its widespread cultivation, it has become naturalized in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world, including Central America (Costa Rica and Panama), the Caribbean (Puerto Rico and Jamaica), South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and southern Brazil), Hawaii, [11] the Azores, Madeira, Madagascar and Réunion, Australia (New South Wales and Queensland), [12] New Zealand (North Island), New Caledonia, Java and New Guinea. [4]
Lophospermum erubescens is pollinated by hummingbirds. Its flowers show characteristic adaptations to this mode of pollination, having sturdy, long-tubed pink to red flowers with open throats, that are more-or-less radially symmetrical. [13] The nectar produced by the flowers is also typical of those pollinated by hummingbirds, being high in sucrose and low in glucose relative to fructose. [14]
Lophospermum erubescens has been in cultivation since it was first formally described in 1830. [15] Joseph Paxton wrote in 1836 that it was "a very fine creeper, and deserves growing by every lover of plants." [16] Growing to 2 m (7 ft) or more, it has been described as "easy" to grow in a frost-free location. [17] In areas subject to frost, it will survive if cut down to near ground level and the base and roots protected from freezing over winter. [16] Propagation is by seed or cuttings. [18] In cultivation, forms with all-white flowers are known, including the cultivar 'Bridal Bouquet'. [19]
In horticulture, it is often given names in the genus Maurandya , as noted for example in the RHS Horticultural Database. [20] However, Lophospermum and Maurandya are now regarded as distinct. Maurandya has smooth rather than hairy leaves with entire rather than toothed margins, and smaller flowers with a tube at most about 30 mm (1.2 in) long. [5]
This plant has won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. [3]
Darlingtonia californica, also called the California pitcher plant, cobra lily, or cobra plant, is a species of carnivorous plant. It is the sole member of the genus Darlingtonia in the family Sarraceniaceae. This pitcher plant is native to Northern California and Oregon, US, growing in bogs and seeps with cold running water usually on serpentine soils. This plant is designated as uncommon due to its rarity in the field.
Camellia japonica, known as common camellia, or Japanese camellia, is a species of Camellia, a flowering plant genus in the family Theaceae. There are thousands of cultivars of C. japonica in cultivation, with many colors and forms of flowers. In the U.S. it is sometimes called japonica. In the wild, it is found in mainland China, Taiwan, southern Korea and southwestern Japan. It grows in forests, at altitudes of around 300–1,100 metres (980–3,600 ft).
Cobaea scandens, the cup-and-saucer vine, cathedral bells, Mexican ivy, or monastery bells, is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family Polemoniaceae. It is native to Mexico, with isolated sightings elsewhere in tropical central and South America.
Rhodochiton is a genus of flowering plants within the family Plantaginaceae, native to southern Mexico and neighbouring Guatemala. They climb by means of twining leaf stalks. One of the three species, Rhodochiton atrosanguineus, the purple bell vine, is grown as an ornamental plant. All three species are sometimes included in Lophospermum.
Lophospermum is a genus of herbaceous perennial climbers or scramblers, native to mountainous regions of Mexico and Guatemala. Those that climb use twining leaf stalks. Their flowers are tubular, in shades of red, violet and purple, the larger flowers being pollinated by hummingbirds. Now placed in the greatly expanded family Plantaginaceae, the genus was traditionally placed in the Scrophulariaceae. The close relationship with some other genera, particularly Maurandya and Rhodochiton, has led to confusion over the names of some species.
Maurandya barclayana, commonly called angels trumpet or Mexican viper, is an ornamental plant in the family Plantaginaceae native to Mexico.
Hibbertia scandens, sometimes known by the common names snake vine, climbing guinea flower and golden guinea vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is climber or scrambler with lance-shaped or egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and yellow flowers with more than thirty stamens arranged around between three and seven glabrous carpels.
Hylotelephium spectabile is a species of flowering plant in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae, native to China and Korea. Its common names include showy stonecrop, iceplant, and butterfly stonecrop.
Verticordia auriculata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, multi-branched shrub with small leaves and spikes of pink to magenta-coloured flowers in late spring to early summer and it is widespread in the wheatbelt.
Lathyrus vernus, the spring vetchling, spring pea, or spring vetch, is a species of flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the genus Lathyrus, native to forests of Europe and Siberia. It forms a dense clump of pointed leaves with purple flowers in spring, shading to a greenish-blue with age.
Asarina is a flowering plant genus of only one species, Asarina procumbens Mill. the trailing snapdragon, which is native to France and Spain and introduced in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary. Originally placed in the Scrophulariaceae, the genus has more recently been moved to the Plantaginaceae. Species from North America formerly placed in the genus Asarina are now placed in Holmgrenanthe, Lophospermum, Mabrya and Maurandya, as well as Neogaerrhinum. Asarina is now regarded as exclusively an Old World genus.
Prostanthera cuneata, commonly known as alpine mint bush, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to mountainous areas of south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect, compact shrub with egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and pale lavendar to almost white flowers with purple blotches.
Maurandya is a genus of flowering plants in the family Plantaginaceae, native to Mexico and the south west United States. They sprawl or climb by means of twining leaf stalks. One of the four species, Maurandya barclayana, is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.
Philodendron erubescens, the blushing philodendron or red-leaf philodendron, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araceae, native to Colombia. It is a robust evergreen climber growing to 3–6 m (10–20 ft), with red stems and heart-shaped leaves up to 40 cm (16 in) in length. The flowers are deep red, fragrant spathes up to 15 cm (6 in) long, in summer and autumn. The specific epithet erubescens means "blushing".
Holmgrenanthe petrophila is a rare perennial desert plant in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae), and the sole species of the genus Holmgrenanthe. It forms low mats of branched stems growing from a woody base. The leaves have small spines along their edges. The solitary yellow flowers are tubular with five free lobes at the end, the upper two pointing backwards, the lower three projecting forwards. The species is known only from about ten locations, most in the Titus Canyon and the adjacent Fall Canyon, all within the Californian section of Death Valley National Park. It grows in limestone crevices on the canyon walls, often on the north face.
Lophospermum scandens is a scambling or climbing herbaceous perennial native to south central Mexico, with red-violet and white tubular flowers and toothed heart-shaped leaves. It grows at elevations between 1,400 and 2,400 m in dry habitats, including deciduous oak forests and recent lava flows. The long-tubed flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds. It has been used in gardens as an ornamental plant since the mid-19th century. Its roots require protection from frost in regions where this occurs in the winter. Hybrids of L. scandens are also grown.
Rhodochiton atrosanguineus is a herbaceous perennial vine native to Mexico. It has been cultivated as an ornamental plant since at least 1836.
Mabrya is a genus of flowering plants in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. It consists of herbaceous perennials with brittle upright or drooping stems, found in dry areas of Mexico and the southern United States.
Maurandya scandens, also known as trailing snapdragon and snapdragon vine, is a climbing herbaceous perennial native to Mexico, with snapdragon-like flowers and untoothed leaves. It is grown as an ornamental plant in many parts of the world, and has commonly escaped from cultivation to become naturalized. Other names for this plant include creeping snapdragon, vining snapdragon, creeping gloxinia and chickabiddy.
Leucospermum erubescens is an evergreen shrub of up to 2 m high, with hairless, lancet-shaped to oval leaves with three to seven teeth near the tip of 7–8½ cm long and 1–2 cm wide, slightly asymmetric, oval flower heads of 5–6½ cm in diameter, and usually with four to eight clustered near the end of the branches, with initially yellow flowers, that change to deep crimson, from which long styles stick out, giving the flowerhead as a whole the appearance of a pincushion. It is called orange flame pincushion in English and oranjevlamspeldekussing in Afrikaans. It can be found in South Africa. Flowers may be found between August and January.