10. Argyreia Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 1: 95, 134. 1790.
[I]
Elephant creeper, Hawaiian wood-rose [Greek argyros, silver, alluding to abaxial leaf surface appearance]
Daniel F. Austin†
Perennials. Stems twining-climbing, white-hairy when young, glabrescent. Leaves petiolate; blade ± cordate-ovate, [40–]180–270 mm; surfaces: abaxial white-hairy, adaxial glabrous or glabrate. Inflorescences cymose. Flowers: sepals ovate [various], [3–]15–20 mm; corolla lavender [purple, red, rose, or white], funnelform [campanulate or tubular], [30–]60–65[–85] mm, limb 5-lobed to nearly entire; styles 1; stigmas 2, globose. Fruits berrylike, ellipsoid to globose, fleshy, indehiscent. Seeds 1–4, ovoid, usually glabrous, rarely hairy on hilum. x = 15.
Species ca. 90 (1 in the flora): introduced, Florida; Asia, Australia; introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America (Venezuela), Africa.
Argyreias are widely cultivated.
