HAWAIIAN BABY WOODROSE
Argyreia nervosa Bojer.
Morning Glory family (Convolvulaceae)
A large perennial climbing vine with heart-shaped leaves up to
1 foot across, backed with silvery hairs. The flowers are 2 to
3 inches long, rose-colored, on 6-inch stalks. Pods dry to a
smooth, dark brown, filbert-sized casule containing 1 to 4
furry brown seeds. The capsule is surrounded by a dry calyx
divided into 5 petal-like sections. Native to Asia;
naturalized and cultivated in Hawaii.
CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION: It may be grown outdoors in
southern California and Florida. Elsewhere it should be grown
in a large pot or tub outdoors in the summer, brought indoors
in winter. It may be propagated by cuttings or seeds, and in
the spring by division. The seed may be sprouted by making a
small nick in the seedcoat away from the germ eye. Soak the
seed until it swells. Plant 1/2-inch deep in loose rich soil.
Do not use bottom heat. After the cotyledons appear, water
sparingly, letting the soil surface dry out to a depth of
1/2-inch. Over-watering causes stem and root rot. The plant
grows slowly until it develops a half-dozen leaves; after this
it grows quickly. In its first year this plant grows into a
small bush 1 to 2 feet tall. During this time it may be grown
in a large pot and kept indoors in winter. The next spring it
will grow into a very large vine and should produce flowers and
seeds. In this second year it should be planted out, or grown
in a tub. In cold-winter areas the roots should be liften and
stored or the tub kept in a cool place until spring.
The methods of increasing the alkaloid content of morning
glories (which see) may be applied to this vine.
HARVESTING: The seed pots should be harvested when thoroughly
dry. They should be stored in a cool, dry place. Their
potency may begin to decrease after 6-9 months.
