Scarlet clock vine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Scarlet clock vine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hexacentris coccinea
• Thunbergia pendula
• Hexacentris acuminata
• Thunbergia quinquenervis
• Hexacentris dentata

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is a member of the family Acanthaceae. Its taxonomic identity is further defined by its placement within the genus Thunbergia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found growing throughout the South-Central territories as well as in the Tibet region. Its range extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is documented in Assam. Additionally, the species is native to the country of Bangladesh. Finally, it is also distributed across the mountainous terrain of the East Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Thunbergia coccineas is characterized by its preference for lowland habitats, where it establishes itself within specific altitudinal parameters. This species exhibits a broad vertical distribution, ranging from a minimum elevation of 300 m AMSL to a maximum peak of 2200 m AMSL. Across its various ecological niches, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 905 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to both lower-lying plains and higher montane environments within its range.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

905 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Thunbergia coccinea is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived species, it establishes a stable presence in its environment, often utilizing its climbing or trailing habit to occupy space over extended periods. This perennial nature enables the plant to undergo repeated cycles of vegetative growth and flowering, contributing to its longevity and ability to colonize various habitats. Depending on environmental stability and resource availability, its growth patterns may vary, but it fundamentally maintains a continuous life cycle rather than completing its biological processes within a single season.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Thunbergia coccineas is characterized by a growth form categorized as a shrub-like liana, exhibiting a woody structure that provides the necessary rigidity for its climbing habit. As an obligatory climber, it relies on external support to ascend, functioning as a liana rather than being self-supporting. The plant is fundamentally terrestrial in its ecological niche, distinguishing it from aquatic or semiaquatic species, and it maintains an independent existence without functioning as a parasite or an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

other

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Thunbergia coccineas is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage, which play a critical role in its photosynthetic capacity and transpiration rates. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with a mean length of 11.5 cm and a range spanning from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 15 cm. This longitudinal variation is complemented by a distinct breadth in the leaf lamina, where the mean width is recorded at 7.25 cm. The lateral expansion of the leaves fluctuates between a minimum width of 3.5 cm and a maximum width of 11 cm, reflecting a highly adaptive surface area that facilitates efficient gas exchange and light interception within its growing environment.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

11.5 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

11 cm

Leaf width mean:

7.25 cm

Leaf width min:

3.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Thunbergia coccineum involves both sexual and asexual mechanisms, with the latter being present to facilitate plant propagation. The sexual reproductive process results in the development of fruits that exhibit specific morphological dimensions. These fruits typically possess a mean length of 1.1 cm, though they can range from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm. In terms of width, the fruits show a mean measurement of 1.75 cm, with individual specimens varying from a minimum width of 1.5 cm to a maximum width of 2 cm.

Fruit length max:

1.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.1 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.75 cm

Fruit width min:

1.5 cm

Reproduction asexual :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Thunbergia coccinea has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Antioxidant

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Preparations

Thunbergia coccinea has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracted essential oils.

Extracted essential oils

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)