Jacquemontia tamnifolia
Fl. Brit. W. I., 474. 1862.
Vines, annual. Herbage hairy, hairs usually simple, sometimes 2-armed, white, becoming ferruginous dry. Stems erect, strongly climbing, or trailing, 1–4 m, often flowering when a few dm tall. Leaf blades ovate, 20–160 × 10–120 mm, base cordate, margins slightly repand, apex acuminate to attenuate. Inflorescences dense, capitate, 6–20+-flowered, densely hirsute, bracts foliaceous, densely hairy, hairs simple, white, ferruginous dry. Flowers: sepals subequal or outers longer than inners, lanceolate to lance-linear, 8–10 mm, abaxial surface hirsute or sericeous; corolla blue, funnelform, 9–15 mm, limb entire or 5-angled. Capsules subglobose, 4–6 mm. Seeds 2–2.8 mm, outer 2 margins wingless or each with a very narrow ridge. 2n = 18.
Phenology: Flowering Aug–Feb.
Habitat: Disturbed sites, dry stream beds, fields, roadsides, swamps.
Elevation: 0–200 m.
Distribution
Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ill., La., Miss., Mo., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Africa.
Discussion
Within the flora area, Jacquemontia tamnifolia is most abundant in the southeastern United States; waif outliers are known from other states. It is the most widespread species in Jacquemontia. Because it is widespread and invasive in both the Old World and New World subtropics and tropics, it is uncertain where it is native and introduced.
Selected References
None.