Thunbergia grandiflora

Thunbergia grandiflora is an evergreen vine in the family Acanthaceae.[2] It is native to China, India, Nepal, Indochina and Burma and widely naturalised elsewhere.[3] Common names include Bengal clockvine, Bengal trumpet, blue skyflower, blue thunbergia, blue trumpetvine, clockvine, skyflower and skyvine.[3]

Thunbergia grandiflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Thunbergia
Species:
T. grandiflora
Binomial name
Thunbergia grandiflora
(Roxb. ex Rottler) Roxb.[1]
Synonyms

Flemingia grandiflora Roxb. ex Rottler

Description

Plants may grow to about 20 metres in height and have a long root system with a deep tap root.[2] The stalked, opposite leaves, which have a rough surface, are quite variable in shape. They may be triangular or ovate and the margins may be toothed, lobed or entire. Length is up to 20 cm and width is up to 6 cm.[2] The blue to mauve flowers are about 8 cm across with a 4 cm long tube that is pale yellow inside.[2] These are followed by pods containing seeds that are ejected several metres upon ripening. Plants also reproduce from segments that are washed down watercourses.[2]

With a minimum temperature of 10–13 °C (50–55 °F), this plant is cultivated as a houseplant in temperate regions,[4] and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5][6]

The species has become a serious environmental weed in Australia on disturbed land along watercourses and in the wet tropics where it smothers other vegetation. It is commonly seen north of Sydney where it has been cultivated for many years.[2]

References
  1. "Thunbergia grandiflora". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  2. "Thunbergia grandiflora". Weed Identification. Australian Weeds Committee. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  3. "Thunbergia grandiflora". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  4. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  5. "RHS Plant Selector - Thunbergia grandiflora". Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  6. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 102. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
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