Porana volubilis Burm.f.

Simões, A. R., Silva, H. & Silveira, P., 2011, The Convolvulaceae of Timor with special reference to East Timor, Blumea 56 (1), pp. 49-72 : 67

1. Porana volubilis Burm.f. — Map 18

Porana volubilis Burm.f. (1768) 51, t. 21*, f. 1; Decne. (1834) 394; Span. (1841) 341; Miq.(1856) 625; Fawc.(1885) 511;Ooststr.(in Ooststr.& Hoogland 1953) 402; Kalkman (1955) 216. — Porana volubilis Burm.f. var. burmanniana Blume (1826) 723. — Type: Zippelius 91 (lecto L).

Porana volubilis Burm.f. var. microcarpa Engl.(1866) 472. — Type: Naumann s.n. (holo B n.v., presumed destroyed).

Distribution — Southern India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor and the Philippines (Van Ooststroom & Hoogland 1953, Staples 2006).

Habitat & Ecology — Thickets, edges of forests, teak forests, from sea level to c. 200 m, sometimes higher. In Timor, up to 750 m (Van Ooststroom & Hoogland 1953).

Vernacular names — Cidani (Tetum); nuit (or nüif) (Timor: unknown dialect).

Uses — A decoction of the plant is used in stimulating the afterbirth (Van Ooststroom & Hoogland 1953). Both leaves and flowers are edible; the leaves can be eaten to remove an unpleasant taste from the mouth. The plant is cultivated in the gardens for ornamental purposes (Van Ooststroom & Hoogland 1953); the flowers are appreciated for their delicate fragrance (Staples 2006).

Figures

Map 18 Distribution of Porana volubilis Burm.f.