Antigonon leptopus
Antigonon leptopus
Antigonon leptopus ( sometimes referred to as coral wine or Mexican knotweed ) is a plant from the family of the buckwheat family ( Polygonaceae ).
Description
Antigonon leptopus is a perennial climber, usually 1 to 3, with a maximum reach their shoots up to 12 m length. The base of the stem can become woody with age. At the end of flowering axes tendrils are formed. The long-stalked, deep green leaves are alternate, triangular to heart-shaped with wavy margin, reaching 10 to 16 cm in length.
The flowers (diameter 0.4 to 2.0 cm) to stand in long panicles. The color of the five tepals varies from light pink to dark pink. The usually eight stamens are fused columnar at the base. The richly produced on the basis of stamen nectar is attractive for a variety of pollinators (bees, flies, butterflies and hummingbirds ).
The tepals enlarge to fruit maturity and form paper-like wings. The fruit is a 0.6 to 1 cm long, triangular and floating achene. In addition, Antigonon leptopus can reproduce vegetatively by above-ground and underground Stolonenbildung by some bulbous roots.
The chromosome number varies from 2n = 14 and 40 to 48
Systematics and distribution
Antigonon leptopus is native to Mexico in regions below 1000 m altitude. The species is relatively dry tolerant and thrives on a variety of soil types. The preferred soil pH is between 5.0 and 5.5. The sites are mostly full sun, partial shade but will tolerate.
As for their flowers estimated ornamental plant Antigonon leptopus is often planted in tropical and partly subtropical areas. Antigonon leptopus has proved to be invasive species, which can displace native vegetation, especially on islands like Guam, Christmas Island, St. Eustatius or Fiji.
Antigonon leptopus is one of four commonly accepted as species of the genus Antigonon. With Antigonon leptopus, alba ' is also a white-flowered variety.