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Thunbergia laurifolia

Lindl. (1856)

This name is accepted

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

blue trumpet vine, laurel-leaved thunbergia, purple allamanda

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Lianas. [similar to t. grandiflora].

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite and decussate (pairs of leaves alternating 90 degrees between nodes). Blades broadly elliptic to narrowly ovate, 8–15 cm long, 2.5–5.5 cm wide. Surfaces glabrous. Margins entire. Petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers often in pendant inflorescences. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Each subtended by ovate bracts 25–40 mm long. Calyx reduced to a truncate, ring-like structure. Corolla 5-lobed, showy, pale blue with a white or pale yellow throat. 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: 2n = 56

Habitat: Found in similar situations as <i>T. grandiflora</i>.

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
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Notes

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

Bibliography

Name Published In: Gard. Chron. 1856: 260 (1856)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:175 (K, O); Starr et al. 1999:11 (EM); Oppenheimer 2003:4 (H); Staples & Herbst 2005:93 (KEY), 94 (DESCR); Starr et al. 2006:31 (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 laurifolia S Hilo District, Papaikou, along Hwy 19 Growing on side of hwy w. Thunbergia grandiflora. Preserved_Specimen Flowers blue. Oppenheimer, H.L. 70130 Hawaii BISH 2001-07-28
2 Thunbergia laurifolia University of Hawaii campus, Honolulu. Castle Memorial Hall Supported on a fence; in full sun. Preserved_Specimen Vine; corollas lavender to violet, except for cream within tube. Flowers odorless (evening). Lau, J. 1447 Oahu BISH 1985-09-19
3 Thunbergia laurifolia Tantalus, along road Weed climbing at least 50ft up tree Preserved_Specimen In vacinity of house, perhaps planted at one point? Faccenda, K. 1956 Oahu BISH 2021-06-08
4 Thunbergia laurifolia Maunawili Trail, Koolau Mts Lowland wet forest; seen smothering several non-native species of trees, including Psidium cattleyanum and Citharexylum caudatum. Preserved_Specimen Smothering liana; stems >3 m long; flowers blue with white and yellow in the throat. Several large, invasive colonies; smothering ca. 20x20 m area Ross, M.C. 2076 Oahu BISH 2024-11-29
5 Thunbergia laurifolia Wailua, Wailua Homesteads, North Olohena, Puuopae Road, just past Kala-kea Place, East side of road, escaping from yard Vine on side of road vining on Mock Orange hedge Preserved_Specimen Flowers hanging. Lvs dull green underside, dark green adaxial surface. Calyx pale green. Flowers w/ purple corolla lobes and yellow inner throat. Outside corolla white becoming light purple. 4 stamens, purple Tangalin, N. 1303 Kauai BISH 2007-05-29
6 Thunbergia laurifolia U.H. campus, Castle Memorial Hall In full sun. Vine supported by a fence. Preserved_Specimen Vine; corollas lavender to violet, except for cream w/in tube. Flowers odorless (evening). Lau, J. 1447 Oahu BISH 1985-09-19
7 Thunbergia laurifolia Koloa District, Lawai Valley. Allerton Garden, Lawai Kai, from Jungle Garden area near coast Growing in Bougainvillea. Preserved_Specimen Large vine; leaves dark green above paler beneath. Corolla pale violet, tube pale yellow within. Flowers faintly fragrant (11 a.m.). Bracts pale green, base purplish. Lorence, D.H. 7456 Kauai BISH 1994-05-16
8 Thunbergia laurifolia Nuuanu Pali Dr. Above where the housing development ends Roadside, shaded, moist Preserved_Specimen Invasive smothering vine growing 50ft up trees. Covering dozens of trees in this area Faccenda, K. 1915 Oahu BISH 2021-05-29
9 Thunbergia laurifolia Hwy 50 just W of Puhi Vine festooning trees. Preserved_Specimen Vine, corolla lobes lavender, tube yellow cream inside. Flynn, T.W. 1201 Kauai BISH 1985-09-04
10 Thunbergia laurifolia Honolulu: Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus, University High School Climbing several meters up a trellis in full sun. Preserved_Specimen A liana; corolla wihtout: white with a hint of lavender. Corolla within: lavender on the limb; creamy yellow within the tube. Lau, J. 1813 Oahu BISH 1986-01-06
11 Thunbergia laurifolia Honolulu, 3107 Oahu Ave Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. 1463 Oahu BISH 1927-10-06
12 Thunbergia laurifolia S Hilo District, along rd to shore at Hakalau Preserved_Specimen Vines; flowers blue. Oppenheimer, H.L. 70136 Hawaii BISH 2001-07-29
13 Thunbergia laurifolia University of Hawaii campus, near bookstore Preserved_Specimen Climbing vine to 10 m long. Woolford, H.A. 310 Oahu BISH 1956-01-24
14 Thunbergia laurifolia Honolulu, Makiki Valley, Makiki Nursery (Bd. Agr. & For.) Preserved_Specimen Vine w/blue flowers. Uehara, S. Oahu BISH 1955-09-22
15 Thunbergia laurifolia Kailua Overlook: Maunawili Demonstration Trail; Na Ala Hele Mesic forest Preserved_Specimen Vine; flowers purple Annable, C.R. 3090 Oahu BISH 1996-10-28
16 Thunbergia laurifolia Wahiawa, P.P.C.A. Exp. Sta Preserved_Specimen Vine, climbing 8 m.; flower pale blue, racemes pendent. St.John, H. 18400 Oahu BISH 1937-09-29
17 Thunbergia laurifolia Kapano Gulch Preserved_Specimen Vine; flowers blue. Starr, F. 506234 Lanai BISH 2005-06-23
18 Thunbergia laurifolia Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Brigham, W.T. Oahu BISH 1890-01-01
19 Thunbergia laurifolia Koloa District, Lawai Valley Preserved_Specimen Scrambling vine, lvs drk mat grn w/pale grn midvein, below pale grn, stem pale grn, calyx very pale grn, corolla lobes very pale lilac w. pale yellow throat; young calyx & pedicel gland dotted, not fragrant (9am). Flynn, T.W. 5598 Kauai BISH 1994-08-15
20 Thunbergia laurifolia Honolulu, University of Hawaii campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 61103 Oahu BISH 1961-10-18
21 Thunbergia laurifolia East Maui, Hana District, Hana highway at Kaumahina State Wayside Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 9805077 Maui BISH 1998-05-07
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