Lophospermum erubescens,known asMexican twist[2]orcreeping gloxinia,[3]is a climbing or sprawlingherbaceousperennial plant,native to theSierra Madre Orientalmountains ofMexico,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 anornamental plantsince 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 | |
|---|---|
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| In cultivation | |
Scientific classification
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Lophospermum |
| Species: | L. erubescens
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| Binomial name | |
| Lophospermum erubescens | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Lophospermum erubescenshas been confused withLophospermum scandens,partly because the earliest illustration ofL. erubescenswas labelled asL. scandens.Among other differences,L. erubescenshas a more climbing habit thanL. scandens,with many twining leaf stalks; also thesepalsare 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 trueGloxiniaspecies from South America, or the flowering houseplant commonly known as gloxinia,Sinningia speciosa.
Description
editLophospermum erubescensis a climbingherbaceousperennialwith 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 woodycaudex– 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 erubescensflowers and fruits over a long period, April to the following January in its native habitat. The flowers are borne singly. Thecalyxhas 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 fertilestamens,the upper two slightly longer than the lower two, and one rudimentary infertile stamen. Thestylehas a forked stigma.[5]
Theovaryis 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]
Taxonomy
edit
The earliest illustration ofLophospermum erubescensappeared in 1830 inThe British Flower Garden.The plant was at first identified as the already knownLophospermum scandensand labelled as such.David Donlater realized that it was a new species, and corrected the error in a subsequent note inThe 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, buterubescensmeans reddening or blushing in Latin.[8]Don's correction was not always noticed, with the result that the nameL. scandensbecame associated with the illustration ofL. erubescens,creating confusion between the two species.[9]
The distinction between the two species has not always been accepted.[6]Don distinguishedL. erubescensfromL. scandensby features such as the former's more triangular leaves with shorter hairs, and broader, less sharply pointedsepals.[7]Other differences are thatL. erubescenshas a more climbing habit thanL. 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 erubescenshas previously been placed in other genera now considered distinct but related; for example inMaurandyabySamuel Frederick Grayand inAsarinabyFrancis Whittier Pennell.[5]
Distribution and habitat
editLophospermum erubescensis native to theSierra Madre Orientalmountains ofMexicowhere 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 dryoakor oak-Liquidambarforests, 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, includingCentral America(Costa RicaandPanama), theCaribbean(Puerto RicoandJamaica),South America(Venezuela,Colombia,Ecuador,Peruand southernBrazil),Hawaii,[11]theAzores,Madeira,MadagascarandRéunion,Australia (New South WalesandQueensland),[12]New Zealand(North Island),New Caledonia,JavaandNew Guinea.[4]
Ecology
editLophospermum erubescensispollinatedbyhummingbirds.Its flowers showcharacteristic adaptationsto 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 insucroseand low inglucoserelative tofructose.[14]
Cultivation
editLophospermum erubescenshas been in cultivation since it was first formally described in 1830.[15]Joseph Paxtonwrote 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]
Inhorticulture,it is often given names in the genusMaurandya,as noted for example in theRHSHorticultural Database.[20]However,LophospermumandMaurandyaare now regarded as distinct.Maurandyahas 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 theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.[3]
References
edit- ^ab"Lophospermum erubescens",The Plant List,retrieved2014-07-14
- ^"Plants Profile forLophospermum erubescens(Mexican twist) ",The PLANTS Database,USDA, NRCS,retrieved2014-08-08
- ^ab"Lophospermum erubescens",RHS Gardening,Royal Horticultural Society,retrieved2014-08-08
- ^ab"World Plants: Complete Plant List".www.worldplants.de.Retrieved19 February2022.
- ^abcdefElisens, Wayne J. (1985), "Monograph of the Maurandyinae (Scrophulariaceae-Antirrhineae)",Systematic Botany Monographs,5:1–97,doi:10.2307/25027602,JSTOR25027602
- ^abElisens 1985,p. 75
- ^abDon, D. (1830),Note to the description ofLophospermum,after t. 75,retrieved2014-08-06,inSweet, R. (1831),The British Flower Garden(series 2),vol. 1, London: James Ridgeway
- ^Stearn, W.T. (2004),Botanical Latin(4th (p/b) ed.), Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, p. 407,ISBN978-0-7153-1643-6
- ^Elisens 1985,p. 70
- ^Elisens 1985,p. 74
- ^Elisens 1985,pp. 18, 75
- ^Barker, W.R. & Harden, G.J.,"Lophospermum erubescensD.Don ",New South Wales Flora Online,retrieved2014-08-07
- ^Elisens 1985,p. 18
- ^Elisens, Wayne J. & Freeman, C. Edward (1988), "Floral Nectar Sugar Composition and Pollinator Type Among New World Genera in Tribe Antirrhineae (Scrophulariaceae)",American Journal of Botany,75(7): 971–978,doi:10.2307/2443763,JSTOR2443763
- ^John Lindley(1830),"Lophospermum erubescens",Edwards's Botanical Register,16,plate 1381
- ^abPaxton, J. (1836),"Select List of Ornamental Creepers",Paxton's Magazine of Botany, and Register of Flowering Plants,2:33–37,retrieved2014-07-13
- ^Phillips, R. & Rix, M. (1997),Conservatory and Indoor Plants,vol. 2, London: Pan, p. 175,ISBN978-0-330-37376-0
- ^Cullen, James; Knees, Sabina G. & Cubey, H. Suzanne, eds. (2011),The European Garden Flora, Flowering Plants,vol. 2, Cambridge University Press, pp.314–315,ISBN978-0-52176-164-2
- ^"Search forLophospermum",RHS Horticultural Database,Royal Horticultural Society,retrieved2014-08-09
- ^"Search forMaurandya",RHS Horticultural Database,Royal Horticultural Society,retrieved2014-08-09
