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Thunbergia fragrans

Roxb. (1796)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Acanthaceae Genus: Thunbergia

sweet clock vine, sweet clock-vine, white thunbergia

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Vines.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite and decussate (pairs of leaves alternating 90 degrees between nodes). Blades hastate–ovate, 4–10 cm long, 3–5 cm wide. Surfaces puberulent to subglabrous except for trichomes along veins or rarely glabrous. Margins subentire. Petioles 0.5-4.5 cm, hirsute. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers solitary on long peduncles. Flowers bisexual (perfect), axillary, peduncle 1.5-5.5 cm; bracteoles ovate, 1.5-2.5 × 0.8-1.5 cm, puberulent, apex acute; subtended by 2 lanceolate to ovate bracts 13–15 mm long. Calyx lobes 15–16. Corolla 5-lobed, showy, white, 2.5–3 cm long. Stamens 4, in pairs, inserted on the corolla alternate with the lobes, sometimes 1 or more reduced to staminodes; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 2-carpellate; ovule placentation axile; style filiform, simple.

Fruit: Capsules with two cells; usually dehiscing explosively; subglobose; with a conspicuous sterile beak 1–2 cm long. Seeds not on a modified funiculus that ejects the seeds from the capsule.

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Pumehana Imada
  • Native to India and Ceylon; in Hawai‘i cultivated.

Bibliography

Name Published In: Pl. Coromandel 1: 47 (1796)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:175 (K, O, M, H); Staples & Herbst 2005:93 (KEY), 95 (DESCR); Starr et al. 2006:31 (Mo); Starr et al. 2010:61 (L)

Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., & Sohmer, S. H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, Vols. 1 and 2 (No. Edn 2). University of Hawai'i and Bishop Museum Press.

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Thunbergia fragrans Kawaihau District, land of Aliomanu Weed of abandoned pineapple field. Preserved_Specimen Vine with white flowers. Herbst, D.R. 5655 Kauai BISH 1976-02-23
2 Thunbergia fragrans Waikane, Koolaupoko Along shady bank of rd side Preserved_Specimen Fls pure white Hosaka, E.Y. 2361 Oahu BISH 1938-07-31
3 Thunbergia fragrans Lightly scattered through out Halepuaa Forest Reserve in the Puna District The plant is most common on the roadside and other disturbed areas. Preserved_Specimen A climbing vine. Clarke, G. 79.216 Hawaii BISH 1979-03-08
4 Thunbergia fragrans Puna Distr., growing along West side of Hwy. 11, between mile markers 6 and 7, about 3/4 mile North of Keeau/Pahoa Road Roadside. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 49909 Hawaii BISH 1999-04-25
5 Thunbergia fragrans Waihee Cane fields. Preserved_Specimen Weed. Beardsley, J.W. Maui BISH 1957-08-23
6 Thunbergia fragrans Near Kapaa Marsh Along highway in weedy area. Plants found scrambling over an old fence and dead grass. Often growing with white Thunbergia vines. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. 902 Kauai BISH 1990-05-03
7 Thunbergia fragrans ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District of Hawaii on the mauka side of the Puna Trail Growing on the mauka side of the Puna Trail in an area exposed to direct sunlight. Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 13 Hawaii BISH 1979-03-08
8 Thunbergia fragrans Lawai Valley, P.T.B.G Occasional along dry roadsides in valley. Preserved_Specimen Vine with white flowers. Herbst, D.R. 2304 Kauai BISH 1972-01-07
9 Thunbergia fragrans Kualapuu, Molokai Vegetation: Carmona retusa, Ochna Preserved_Specimen Perennial twining vine. Occasional in the area; pops up on its own. Flowers white. Fruit present. Starr, F. 505183 Molokai BISH 2005-05-18
10 Thunbergia fragrans North Kohala District, land of Kealahewa Common naturalized. Preserved_Specimen Vine with white flowers. Herbst, D.R. 5623 Hawaii BISH 1976-01-20
11 Thunbergia fragrans Lanai City scrulb; Clusia rosea, Sphaeropteris cooperi Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 7040308 Lanai BISH 2007-04-03
12 Thunbergia fragrans University of Hawaii campus, Honolulu. In rear of Crawford Hall In cultivation. Preserved_Specimen Vine up to 20 m long. Flower white. Woolford, H.A. 296 Oahu BISH 1956-01-23
13 Thunbergia fragrans Hwy 33 about 1 mi past Happy Valley Growing along sides of cane fields with Cenchrus, Cyperus and other weeds. Preserved_Specimen Low vine. Ishikawa, S. 313 Maui BISH 1973-11-29
14 Thunbergia fragrans Along hwy near Kapaa Marsh In a weedy area, found scrambling over an old fence and dead grass. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. 902 Kauai BISH 1990-05-03
15 Thunbergia fragrans East Maui, Hana District, Kauiki, on E side of Hana Bay Dominated by Casuarina planted in late 1930s but with numerous other alien species (Terminalia, Syzygium, Ardisia). Along summit trail from cemetery in Casuarina grove with Passiflora and Kalanchoe. Preserved_Specimen Flowers white. Flynn, T.W. 2504 Maui BISH 1987-10-21
16 Thunbergia fragrans Scattered throughout Halepuaa Forest Reserve in the Puna District Most common on the roadisde and other distrubed areas. Preserved_Specimen A climbing vine Clarke, G. 79.216 Hawaii BISH 1979-03-08
17 Thunbergia fragrans Puna District; 1km W on Pakaka Rd Preserved_Specimen Perennial vine; flowers white. Annable, C.R. 3759 Hawaii BISH 1998-01-18
18 Thunbergia fragrans Kau Distr., growing along the North side of Hwy. 11 in the vicinity of Naalehu Roadside. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 49910 Hawaii BISH 1999-04-25
19 Thunbergia fragrans Kawaihau District, land of Aliomanu Weed of abandoned pineapple field. Preserved_Specimen Vine with white flowers. Herbst, D.R. 5655 Kauai BISH 1976-02-23
20 Thunbergia fragrans Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe Bay at water tank. 1/4 mi W of Kualoa Pia, just below Kanehoalani Very common, weedy on fence. Preserved_Specimen Flowers white. Iltis, H.H. 392 Oahu BISH 1967-07-30
21 Thunbergia fragrans Waikane, Koolaupoko Along shady bank of roadside. Preserved_Specimen Flowers pure white. Hosaka, E.Y. 2361 Oahu BISH 1938-07-31
22 Thunbergia fragrans Hilo, Kona Rd Preserved_Specimen Flower white. Meebold, A. Hawaii BISH 1932-05-01
23 Thunbergia fragrans Foster Gardens, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Corolla white with faint green throat. Miyashiro, Y. Oahu BISH 1964-01-28
24 Thunbergia fragrans Makiki Heights Dr., Tantalus and Nature Center Parking area, Oahu, Hawaii Growing down from weedy hill and fill area, over planted Mock-orange, Cordia subcordata. Preserved_Specimen Vine, white flowers, with 2 bracts, caylx many spike-like lobes. Crago, L.M. 2005217 Oahu BISH 2005-11-01
25 Thunbergia fragrans North Kohala, Makapala Christian retreat center, along Akone Puli Hwy., mile marker 27, 2 mi from Pololu Valley Lookout Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5563 Hawaii BISH 1985-06-24
26 Thunbergia fragrans Windward side of northern part of Kalepa Ridge Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1977-07-20
27 Thunbergia fragrans Lihue Preserved_Specimen Oda, A. Kauai BISH 1965-02-22
28 Thunbergia fragrans Nonou Mts Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 611 Kauai BISH 1916-10-16
29 Thunbergia fragrans Honolulu; Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. Oahu BISH 1962-03-25
30 Thunbergia fragrans Kalaupapa; community, behind carpenter's shop landscaped Preserved_Specimen vine Wysong, M.L. 755 Molokai BISH 2005-09-07
31 Thunbergia fragrans Mott Smith Dr. between Pililani Pl and Kalawahine Pl Sunny roadside Preserved_Specimen Climbing fence Faccenda, K. 1881 Oahu BISH 2021-05-22
32 Thunbergia fragrans ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District The plant is common growing on the side of the road. The area is exposed to moderate sunlight. Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 7 Hawaii BISH 1979-03-07
33 Thunbergia fragrans Lawai Valley, P.T.B.G Common low small vine throughout valley. Preserved_Specimen Corolla white. Flynn, T.W. 718 Kauai BISH 1984-01-04
34 Thunbergia fragrans Kaluanui Stream next to abandoned sugar cane fields Near stream and abandonded sugar cane field. Preserved_Specimen Weed. Corn, C. Oahu BISH 1978-05-18
35 Thunbergia fragrans Oka Nursery & Landscaping, 445 Halaki St., Niu area, Honolulu Growing as a weed over other vegetation in full sun. Preserved_Specimen Vine; flowers white; odorless (morning). Lau, J. 1948 Oahu BISH 1986-02-03
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