Spottedheart

Stictocardia tiliifolia has been confused with Ipomoea campanulata Linnaeus ( = S. campanulata (Linnaeus) Merrill), which is similar in general appearance and grows also along seacoasts. The glandular-dotted leaves, calyx, and corolla, and the non-capsular fruits enclosed in enlarged, leathery sepals are distinctive for S. tiliifolia.

The nomenclature for Stictocardia tiliifolia has been the subject of some disagreement, and of the two different interpretations recently proposed, Austin et al. (Brittonia 30: 195-198. 1978) and Gunn (Brittonia 24: 169-176. 1972), the former is here followed.

Twiners large, woody. Young branches pubescent, finally glabrescent. Petiole 3-14 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate or circular, 6-20 X 5-20 cm, herbaceous, ± pubescent or subglabrous, abaxially glandular punctate, base cordate, apex short acuminate or abruptly acuminate, mucronulate; lateral veins 7 or 8 pairs. Cymes 1-3-flowered; peduncle 1.5-7.5 cm; bracts deciduous, minute. Pedicel 2-3.5 cm. Sepals circular, subequal or inner ones shorter, 1-1.8 cm, pubescent or glabrous abaxially, minutely glandular punctate, enlarging to 4-5 cm in fruit, apex rounded or emarginate. Corolla reddish purple, with a dark center, funnelform, 8-10 cm; limb 8-10 cm in diam.; midpetaline bands glandular punctate outside, sometimes pilose. Stamens unequal; filaments pubescent basally; anthers lanceolate, ca. 5 mm. Style filiform; lobes of stigma papillose. Fruit globose, 2-3.5 cm in diam. Seeds dark brown, 8-9 mm, pubescent. Fl. Oct-Nov, fr. Jan.

Hainan, Taiwan [?Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan (Ogasawara and Ryukyu Islands), Malaysia, ?Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; N Australia, North America (Central America, West Indies), Pacific Islands]

Seashore thickets, forests; below 100 m.

Convolvulus tiliifolius Desrousseaux in Lamarck, Encycl. 3: 544. 1789 [1792]; Argyreia tiliifolia (Desrousseaux) Wight; Ipomoea tiliifolia (Desrousseaux) Roemer & Schultes; Rivea tiliifolia (Desrousseaux) Choisy.