Calystegia affinis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Solanales |
Family: | Convolvulaceae |
Genus: | Calystegia |
Species: | C. affinis
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Binomial name | |
Calystegia affinis | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Calystegia affinis is a critically endangered species of climbing or creeping vine in the plant family Convolvulaceae.[2] It is endemic to Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.[2] In 2003 only about 45 mature plants were known, with about 40 of those on Norfolk Island.[3][4]
The genus name, Calystegia is derived from the Greek: kalux, "cup", and stegos, "a covering", meaning "a covering cup" and refers to the bracteoles enclosing the calyx. The specific epithet, affinis, is Latin for 'neighbouring',[5] which was possibly chosen by Endlicher on the basis of his comment that the species was closely allied to Calystegia marginata.[6]
Calystegia affinis is a thin-stemmed plant in the genus Calystegia which climbs by twining. It has sparse alternate, arrow-headed leaves about 6 cm x 5 cm.[2] The flowers are axillary,[7] solitary, pink with five[7] cream longitudinal bands and are funnel-shaped.[2] They have large persistent bracteoles enclosing the calyx which has five sepals and five petals.[7] The fruit is a papery capsule[2] which splits longitudinally into four valves.[7] The plant is thought to reproduce both clonally and by seed.[2]
Calystegia affinis was first described by Endlicher in 1833.[1][6] In 1904, Joseph Maiden renamed it Convolvulus affinis,[8] but this is considered an illegal name by the Commonwealth Heads of Australian Herbaria.[9] The other synonyms[1] (given above) are illegal names, with the species concept having been refined by P.S. Green in 1994 in Flora of Australia.[10]