Thunbergia alata

Taxobox
name = Black-eyed Susan vine

---

regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
subclassis = Asteridae
ordo = Lamiales
familia = Acanthaceae
genus = "Thunbergia"
species = "T. alata"
binomial = "Thunbergia alata"
binomial_authority = Bojer ex Sims

"Thunbergia alata", commonly called Black-eyed Susan vine, is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant species in the Acanthaceae family. It is native to Eastern Africa, and has been natrilized in other parts of the world, it is found in Cerrado vegetation of Brazil and Hawaii and is found in eastern Australia and the southern USA in the states of Texas and Florida. [http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=THAL3&display=63} Classification | USDA PLANTS ] ] It is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and in hanging baskets.

Description

Depending on the conditions,"Thunbergia alata" grows to a height of 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m) in tropical zones, but much less as a container plant or as an annual. It has twinning stems with heart or arrow-shaped leaves. [http://www.plantzafrica.com/planttuv/thunbergalata.htm] It favours sun to partial shade and the flowers, though typically a warm orange can range through red, orange, red-orange and bright yellow with the characteristic chocolate-purple centre which inspires the common name. [http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/248/ PlantFiles: Detailed information on Black-Eyed Susan Vine Thunbergia alata ] ]

Growth and care

Soft five-petal blooms appear in late Spring/early Summer, mid Summer and again in late Summer, early Autumn (Fall). The leaves are heart shaped dicotyledons and the plant is an evergreen perennial. The plant is self-propagating but propagation methods for gardeners include herbaceous stem cuttings, and from seed. In the northern hemisphere seed is sown indoors before last frost and direct sowing after the last frost of the season.

To collect seeds, seedheads are allowed to dry on plants before removal and seed collection.

Synonyms

* "Endomelas alata" ( ex Sims) Raf.
* "Thunbergia alata" ex Sims var. "fryeri" (Vilm.) Hasselbr.
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims var. "albiflora" Kuntze
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims var. "aurantiaca" Kuntze
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims var. "bakeri" Hasselbr.
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims var. "vixalata" Burkill
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims var. "lutea" Hasselbr.
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims var. "reticulata" (Hochst. ex Nees) Burkill
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims subvar. "doddsii" (Paxton) Hasselbr.
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims var. "sulphurea" Hasselbr.
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims var. "albiflora" Hook.
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims var. "alba" Paxton
* "Thunbergia alata" Bojer ex Sims var. "retinervia" Burkill
* "Thunbergia albiflora" (Hook.) Gordondn
* "Thunbergia aurantiaca" Paxton
* "Thunbergia backeri" Vilm.
* "Thunbergia doddsii" Paxton
* "Thunbergia fryeri" Vilm.
* "Thunbergia manganjensis" T.Anderson ex Lindau
* "Thunbergia reticulata" Hochst. ex Nees

ee also

* List of plants of Cerrado vegetation of Brazil

References

External links

* [http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/synonyms.asp?plantID=254 Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants: "Thunbergia alata"]
* [http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/thunbergia_alata.htm "Thunbergia alata"]
* [http://www.institutohorus.org.br/download/fichas/Thunbergia_alata.htm "Thunbergia alata"]
* [http://www.arbolesornamentales.com/Thunbergia.htm "Thunbergia alata"]