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• Taxonomy
• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Reproduction
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Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. Clitoria multiflora M.Martens & Galeotti
2. Clitoria velutina Standl.
3. Ternatea multiflora M.Martens & Galeotti
4. Ternatea polystachya (Benth.)Kuntze

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Fantz P.R., 1999

Physical Description

Family Fabaceae:

The Fabaceae are herbs, vines, shrubs, trees, and lianas found in both temperate and tropical areas. They comprise one of the largest families of flowering plants, numbering 630 genera and 18,000 species. The leaves are stipulate, nearly always alternate, and range from bipinnately or palmately compound to simple. The petiole base is commonly enlarged into a pulvinus that commonly functions in orientation of the leaves (sometimes very responsively, as in the sensitive plant, Mimosa pudica). The flowers are usually bisexual, actinomorphic to zygomorphic, slightly to strongly perigynous, and commonly in racemes, spikes, or heads. The perianth commonly consists of a calyx and corolla of 5 segments each. The androecium consists of commonly 1- many stamens (most commonly 10), distinct or variously united, sometimes some of them reduced to staminodes. The pistil is simple, often stipitate, comprising a single style and stigma, and a superior ovary with one locule containing 2-many marginal ovules. The fruit is usually a legume, sometimes a samara, loment, follicle, indehiscent pod, achene, drupe, or berry. The seeds often have a hard coat with hourglass-shaped cells, and sometimes bear a u-shaped line called a pleurogram. [Carr]

Genus Clitoria:

Climbing or erect herbs or shrubs, rarely trees. Leaf mostly pinnately 3-9-foliolate; stipels and stipules present. Inflorescence racemose or axillary solitary or paired. Bracts stipule-like; bracteoles large. Calyx 5 toothed, 2 upper teeth subconnate. Corolla white, red or blue. Vexillum without appendages, larger than other petals. Stamens monadelphous or diadelphous, 9+1, vexillary stamen free; anthers uniform or 5 dorsifixed alternating with 5 subbasifixed. Ovary stipitate, 2-many ovuled, style more or less flattened, bearded inside, stigma terminal. Fruit linear-oblong, compressed or turgid.

A genus with about 30 species, distributed in tropics and subtropics.^[1]

Habit: Shrub • Climbing: Not Climbing

Distribution

Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Similar Species

Members of the genus Clitoria:

There are approximately 178 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them: C. amazonum · C. andrei · C. annua · C. annua var. sekharii · C. aquilupiensis · C. arborea (Burro Yacuana) · C. arborea var. arborea · C. arborea var. lomgiramosa · C. arborea var. pseudoamazonica · C. arborescens · C. australis · C. berteroana · C. beteriana · C. brachycalyx · C. brachystegia (Flor De La Reina) · C. brasilensis · C. caelestis · C. cajanifolia f. glabrior · C. calcarata · C. calcarugera · C. canescens · C. cavalcantei · C. chanondii · C. cordiformis · C. cordobensis · C. coriacea · C. dendrina (Anima-Flor De Anima) · C. densiflora (Semelos) · C. densiflora var. mucronata · C. epetiolata · C. epetiolata var. angustissima · C. epetiolata var. epetiolata · C. epetiolata var. latiuscula · C. epteiolata · C. fairchildiana (Butterfly Pea Tree) · C. falcata (Espelina Falsa) · C. falcata f. heteromorpha · C. falcata var. aurantiaca · C. falcata var. falcata · C. falcata var. glabrescens · C. falcata var. latifolia · C. flagellaris · C. flexuosa (Raca-Sisa) · C. flexuosa var. brevibracteata · C. flexuosa var. brevibracteola · C. flexuosa var. flexuosa · C. fluminensis · C. fragrans (Pigeon Wings) · C. froesii (Darume Vine) · C. galactia · C. glabella · C. glaberrima (Anima) · C. guadelupensis · C. guianensis (Catuaba) · C. guianensis f. imperfecta · C. guianensis var. chapadensis · C. guianensis var. guianensis · C. guianensis var. macrocleistogama · C. guianensis var. reflexa · C. guyanensis f. chapadensis · C. hanceana · C. hanceana var. hanceana · C. hanceana var. latifolia · C. hanceana var. laureola · C. hanceana var. petiolata · C. hanceana var. thailandica · C. hermanii · C. hermannii · C. heterophylla (Kilelo) · C. heterophylla var. heterophylla · C. heterophylla var. pedunculata · C. humilis · C. irwinii · C. javanica · C. javitensis · C. javitensis f. bracteosubtenda · C. javitensis f. pilosa · C. javitensis f. truncata · C. javitensis var. grandifolia · C. javitensis var. javitensis · C. javitensis var. longiloba · C. javitensis var. portobellensis · C. juninensis (Sapotillo) · C. kaessneri (Muliatchioca) · C. kaieteurensis · C. lactescens · C. lasciva (Famahyfary) · C. laurifolia · C. laurifolia f. glabrior · C. laurina · C. leptostachya · C. leptostachya var. fruticosa · C. leptostachya var. leptostachya · C. linearis · C. macrophylla · C. macrophylla var. macrophylla · C. macrophylla var. sericea · C. macrophylla var. stipulacea · C. magentea · C. magnifica

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Notes

Contributors:

• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2005. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. [http://sn2000.taxonomy.nl/Taxonomicon/]. Access date: Nov 23, 2005
• Fantz PR, 1999 (from ILDIS).
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed December 24, 2006. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 3 providers.
• ILDIS World Database of Legumes
• ILDIS World Database of LegumesNov 10, 2005.

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 20, 2007:

• Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad
• , Biodiversidad de Costa Rica
• Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden

Identifiers:

• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13641715
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:61295-2
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 430362

Footnotes:

1. "Clitoria". in Flora of Pakistan Page 254. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.