Mexican Twist

Lophospermum erubescens

Mexican Twist

DESCRIPTION

Hairy vine with slender stems some metres long climbing via twining petioles and flower stalks. Triangular leaves 4–7cm long by similar wide with toothed margins, apex acuminate, base hastate to cordate, 3–5 spreading veins from the base. Petioles 2–5cm long.

FLOWERS AND FRUIT

Hairy tubular pink-purple flowers 4-7cm long from spring to summer on stalks 2–6.5cm long; five sepals 15–30mm long. Ovoid capsules 15–20mm long.

HABITAT AND RANGE

Moist sites from Taree in New South Wales north to Caloundra in Queensland, with a disjunct population in the wet tropics. A native of Mexico and Central America.