Systematic Classification:
Division : Angiospermae
Class : Dicotyledons
Subclass : Gamopetalae
Series : Bicarpellatae
Order : Polemoniales
Family : Convolvulaceae
Genus : Argyreia
Species : nervosaCommon Names:
Baby woodrose, Elephant climber, Elephant creeper, Elephant ear vine, Elephant vine, Hawaiian baby woodrose, Silver morning glory, Wood rose, Woodrose, Woolly morning glory.
General Information:
This species is a weed of tropical and sub-tropical habitats, including rainforests, open woodlands, roadsides, distrubed sites and waste areas. A robust climber that grow up to a height of 10 m or more and can cover trees. Its stems are relatively thick and become woody with age. The younger stems are densely covered in whitish coloured hairs.The large leaves (15-30 cm long and 13-30 cm wide) are heart-shaped (i.e. ovate-cordate) with pointed tips (i.e. acute apices). They have hairless (i.e. glabrous) upper surfaces and persistently silvery-white hairy (i.e. tomentose) undersides. These leaves are alternately arranged along the stems and are borne on long stalks The large tubular flowers (5-7.5 cm long and about 5 cm across) are borne in clusters on long stalks (up to 15 cm long) that are covered in white hairs (i.e. on tomentose peduncles). They have five sepals (13-20 mm long when in flower) that are velvety-hairy like the undersides of the leaves. The petals are fused together into a tube (i.e. corolla tube) that varies in colour from pale pinkish to white with a much darker throat that is dark pink to violet. Flowering occurs mainly during spring and summer.
Economic importance:
- Argyreia speciosa Sweet (Family – Convolvulaceae) is an important ‘rasayana’ herb used extensively as an adaptogen in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
- The root is regarded as an alternative tonic and used in cases of rheumatism and neurological disorders. A wide range of phytochemicals has been isolated from the plant and possesses various traditional and tribal uses for cure of human ailments.