Jacquemontia pentanthos

Vines, perennial. Herbage usu­ally hairy, sometimes glab­res­cent, hairs stellate, 3-armed, arms ± equal, multiangular and recurved. Stems from stout rootstocks, twining-climbing, to 5 m. Leaf blades ovate, 20–60(–110) × 15–70(–170) mm, base cordate, margins faintly repand, apex attenuate, surfaces mostly glabrous. Inflorescences compact to dense, (1–)3–8+-flowered, peduncles usually longer than leaves, bracts linear, 1 × 0.5 mm. Flowers: sepals unequal, outers usually rhombic, sometimes ovate, 4–7 mm, base narrowed to short stalk, margins undulate, apex long-attenuate, surfaces sparsely hairy or glabrous, inners ovate, 3–7 mm, apex acute to acuminate; corollas (in flora area) blue, usually campanulate, sometimes subrotate, 10–20 mm, limb entire. Capsules subglobose to broadly ovoid, 4–6 mm. Seeds 1.5–2.5 mm. 2n = 18.

Phenology: Flowering Oct–Apr.
Habitat: Rockland hammocks, pine rock­lands, coastal rock barrens, marl prairies, bayheads.
Elevation: 0–10 m.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Fla., Mexico, West Indies (mostly absent from Bahamas), Central America, South America.

Discussion

Jacquemontia pentanthos is widespread in the American tropics and subtropics with its northern limit of distribution in southern Florida. It is widely cultivated. It is at the core of approximately ten species occurring in Mexico and Central America.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.