Bengal trumpet vine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bengal clockvine
• Bengal trumpet
• blue skyflower
• blue thunbergia
• blue trumpetvine
• clockvine
• skyflower
• skyvine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Thunbergia grandiflora var. cordiflora
• Thunbergia grandiflora f. alba
• Thunbergia clarkei
• Pleuremidis grandiflora
• Thunbergia grandiflora f. citrina
• Flemingia grandiflora
• Thunbergia grandiflora var. axillaris
• Thunbergia lacei
• Thunbergia grandiflora var. racemosa
• Thunbergia adenophora
• Thunbergia chinensis
• Thunbergia talbotiae

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Acanthaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Thunbergia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans several distinct regions across the Atlantic. In the Macaronesian islands, it can be found specifically in Madeira. Its distribution extends to West Tropical Africa, where it is recorded in Gambia. Within West-Central Tropical Africa, the species is present in both Cameroon and Gabon. Additionally, it inhabits the remote Middle Atlantic Ocean on Ascension Island.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Thunbergia grandiflora is characterized by its ability to occupy a broad altitudinal spectrum, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1700 m AMSL, with a mean elevational presence of approximately 572.5 m AMSL. In its specific ecological context in Hawai`i, the species is primarily found in cultivated settings, though it has demonstrated the ability to become sparingly adventive. In these naturalized instances, it typically colonizes disturbed environments such as the margins of urban areas or along hiking trails, where it can establish itself within the local landscape.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

572.5 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

In Hawai`i cultivated and sparingly adventive along hiking trails or margins of urban areas

Genetics

The genetics of Thunbergia grandiflora are characterized by a specific karyotype that plays a fundamental role in its cellular structure and reproductive biology. A defining cytogenetic feature of this species is its chromosome number, which is documented at 56. This diploid number serves as a critical genetic baseline for understanding the plant's evolutionary lineage within the Acanthaceae family and influences its capacity for genetic diversity and adaptation. The stability of this chromosomal arrangement is essential for proper meiosis and successful seed production, ensuring the inheritance of complex physiological traits across generations.

Chromosome number :

56

Life history

The life history of Thunbergia grandiflora is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish extensive, woody climbing structures. As a perennial vine, it undergoes continuous vegetative growth, utilizing vigorous tendrils to scale surrounding vegetation or structures to reach sunlight. Its life cycle involves a progression from initial seedling establishment to a mature, climbing phase where it focuses energy on both rapid biomass production and seasonal flowering. The plant's longevity is supported by its ability to recover from pruning or environmental stressors, maintaining a steady presence in its habitat through recurring cycles of leaf production and reproductive efforts.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Thunbergia grandiflora is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, functioning primarily as a large liana. As an obligatory climber, it utilizes surrounding structures for support to reach significant heights, typically ranging from a minimum of 7 m to a maximum of 17 m, with an average plant height of approximately 10 m. Although it displays characteristics of a shrub in its developmental stages, its mature habit is that of a woody climbing vine. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological habit, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

17 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Thunbergia grandiflora is characterized by distinct morphological variations in its foliage and specific nutritional strategies. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional plasticity, with mean lengths recorded at 6.5 cm and minimum lengths reaching as low as 4 cm, while the maximum leaf length can extend up to 22 cm. Similarly, the leaf width shows considerable range, with a minimum width of 3 cm, a mean width of 5.25 cm, and a maximum width reaching up to 15 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

22 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.25 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Thunbergia grandiflora is characterized by its specific inflorescence and fruit morphology. The inflorescence displays a variable length, ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.15 m. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruits that exhibit highly consistent dimensions; both the fruit length and the fruit width maintain a uniform measurement of 1.8 cm. This consistency is reflected across all measured parameters, with the minimum, mean, and maximum values for both fruit length and fruit width all recorded at exactly 1.8 cm.

Fruit length max:

1.8 cm

Fruit width max:

1.8 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.15 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Thunbergia grandiflora has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Grandifloric acid, Isounedoside.

Grandifloric acid

1. Phytochemistry

Isounedoside

1. Phytochemistry

Activities

Thunbergia grandiflora has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antithrombotic, Cytotoxic.

Antithrombotic

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology