Moonflower

Calonyction aculeatum (Linnaeus) House; Convolvulus aculeatus Linnaeus

Perennials. Stems twining, usu­ally prickly, sometimes root­ing at nodes. Leaf blades broadly ovate to triangular or 3–5-lobed, 50–150 × 50–150 mm, base cor­date, surfaces usually gla­brous, rarely hairy. Peduncles glabrous. Flowers noc­turnal; sepals ovate, 7–15 mm, ± coriaceous, apex acute, outers each with midrib extending as ± corniform appendage; corolla white, throat green-banded inside, salverform, 70–150 mm. Fruits 20–30 mm. 2n = 30.

Flowering Sep–May. Forest margins, swamps, moist sites; 0–100 m; introduced; Fla., La., S.C., Tex.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America; introduced also in Asia.