Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Lophospermum erubescens D.Don (1830)
Synonymy:
  • Maurandya erubescens (D.Don) A. Gray (1868)
  • Asarina erubescens (D.Don) Pennell (1947)
Vernacular Name(s):
climbing gloxinia; Creeping gloxinia
 Description

Perennial herb. Stems hairy, climbing by twining petioles. Petioles to 3 cm long, slender, hairy. Lamina 5–7.5 × 5–7.5 cm, triangular-ovate, hairy, strongly dentate with mucronate teeth and a small basal lobe on each side; base cordate; apex slender, acute. Pedicels > petioles. Calyx c. 2 cm long, hairy, especially on lobes; lobes lanceolate or narrow-ovate, mucronate, c. 3/4 length of tube. Corolla c. 7 cm long; lobes deep pink; throat paler; tube slightly swollen at base, with longitudinal hairy bands inside and hairy ring above base; lobes rounded, somewhat 2-lipped. Lower stamens c. = corolla tube. Capsule c. 1.5 cm diam., globose. Seeds covered with finger-like reticulate appendages; wing broad, fimbriate, lacerate.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Phenology

Flowering: Jan.–Mar.

 Bibliography
Biosecurity New Zealand 2012: Regional Pest Management Strategies Database. http://www.biosecurityperformance.maf.govt.nz/
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42.