VINCETOXICUM

Vincetoxicum Wolf., Gen. Pl. 130. 1776; Tylophora R. Br., Prodr. 460. 1810; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 30. 1885; Parker, For. Fl. Punj. ed. 1. 345. 1918 (Reprint 1973); Duthie, Fl. Upp. Gang. Pl. 2: 60. 1973 (Reprint); Huber in Abeyw., Fl. Ceylon 1(1): 41. 1973; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 16: 253; Ali, Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 42.

Vincetoxicum indicum

Vincetoxicum indicum (Burm. f.) Mabb., Mabberley’s Pl.-Book, ed. 4: 1102. 2017; Tylophora indica Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci. 19: 373. 1921; Jagtap & Singh, Fl. Ind. Fas. 24. 1999; Cynanchum indicum Burm. f., Fl. Indica 70. 1768.

Perennial, small, much branched, pubescent, twining herb. Leaves opposite; petiole short, ca. 8 mm long, pubescent; leaf blade 4-10 cm x 2-5.5 cm, ovate or ovate-oblong, base cordate or subcordate, margin entire, apex shortly acuminate or mucronate, both surfaces slightly pubescent, especially on veins abaxially. Flowers small in pedunculate, umbelliform few-flowered cymes; pedicels long, pubescent, equal to or longer than the peduncle, up to 3.5 cm long; bracts filiform, pubescent. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, 5-merous, hypogynous, small, 1-1.3 cm across, rotate or campanulate, greenish-yellow outside and greenish-reddish purple inside. Sepals 5, connate at base, lobes 3-3.5 mm x 1 mm, ovate-lanceolate, nearly equal to petals, pubescent outside, pale green. Corolla rotate or campanulate; tube 2-2.5 mm long and ca. 4 mm diam.; lobes 5, ca. 5 mm x 3.5 mm, ovate, slightly overlapping to right or subvalvate, distinctly veined, pale green, reddish-purple at base adaxially, densely pubescent. Corona of 5 erect, rigid, fleshy, triangular, laterally compressed segments, adnate to the short staminal column, but not exceeding gynostegium, lobes acuminate at tip. Anthers small with appendages arching over gynostegium; pollinia 2 per anther, horizontal, caudicles suberect, corpusculum small. Carpels 2, apocarpous; ovaries 2, free, obconic, ca. 2 mm long; styles 2, ca. 1 mm long; gynostegium disciform, 5-angled, depressed. Fruits not observed.

Flowering and Fruiting: February to April, July to October
Common Names: Indian Ipecac, Indian Ipecacuanha, Emetic Swallow-wort, Vomitting Swallow-wort; Antamul Jangli Pikvan (Hindi)