Operculina pteripes (Convolvulaceae)

[Josue Diaz]

A few years ago I came upon the most beautiful flowering vine growing wild in El Salvador. It was a morning glory type vine, but the plant was thick and had these huge, glossy leaves and fat, waxy flower buds.  The flowers themselves were large and a true orange color.  It unfortunately did not have ripe seed at the time and I had been on the hunt for its ID and for seed.  I believe it is Operculina pteripes. I managed to source 4 seeds from a friend who collected them for me and I am beyond excited that I have a healthy seedling now. True to its Convolvulaceae cousins, it is an incredibly fast grower. this seedling is not more than 4 days old. 

 

[Tracy]

2 minutes ago, Josue Diaz said:

I believe it is Operculina pteripes. I managed to source 4 seeds from a friend who collected them for me and I am beyond excited that I have a healthy seedling now. True to its Convolvulaceae cousins, it is an incredibly fast grower. this seedling is not more than 4 days old. 

Looks like you will need to post some updates frequently with it growing so fast.  It will be interesting to see if it develops into what you think it is.

[Josue Diaz]

18 minutes ago, Tracy said:

Looks like you will need to post some updates frequently with it growing so fast.  It will be interesting to see if it develops into what you think it is.

I am really excited to get it to bloom here. I wonder whether it will behave as an annual or as a perennial. I have ipomoea acuminata which is perennial. 

.

as far as the ID, there is very limited information on operculina online but the foliage and flowers look like what you see online if you google O. pteripes. Except the vine the seeds came from had huge flowers and it was entirely smothered with flowers. unlike any pictures of that species online. 

[Silas_Sancona]

Bump.. How'd this do after your post Josue

[Josue Diaz]

Died in a greenhouse malfunction last year. And i was JUST in El Salvador again but didn't find ripe seed on the vines. 

[Silas_Sancona]

10 hours ago, Josue Diaz said:

Died in a greenhouse malfunction last year. And i was JUST in El Salvador again but didn't find ripe seed on the vines. 

Know how that goes.. At least you can re-collect seed next time you're down there.. If not have friends there send more later..  Might keep an eye out for these also: Centrosema plumieri.. supposedly grows throughout S. Mexico/ Central America.. Another interesting Vine.

Edited January 11, 2020 by Silas_Sancona
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[Josue Diaz]

34 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Know how that goes.. At least you can re-collect seed next time you're down there.. If not have friends there send more later..  Might keep an eye out for these also: Centrosema plumieri.. supposedly grows throughout S. Mexico/ Central America.. Another interesting Vine.

Ah yes! that grows everywhere on our farm down there! haven't noticed any seed before though

[Silas_Sancona]

30 minutes ago, Josue Diaz said:

Ah yes! that grows everywhere on our farm down there! haven't noticed any seed before though

Cool, Would imagine plants would have seed on them year round there.. interesting.. have heard this and a sister sp. C. macrocarpum ( looks similar, flowers supposedly are more pale yellow-ish w/ orange ) are grown used as green mulch / cover crop in some areas..