Common Name: Bush clock vine
Bush clock vine is a beautiful plant with bell shaped purple flowers; it grows to a height of about 1.5 meters. Although a vine, the plant can be trimmed and used as an hedge plant: commonly deployed as a hedge plant in Tamilnadu. The plant is of African origin and has been naturalized in India. The leaves are simple and arranged in an opposite manner. The leaf size is highly variable and can be anywhere between 3-6 cm in length. The leaf shape is slightly ovate and has an acute base and tip. The leaf margin is entire. The inflorescence is axillary with a single flower. The flower is guarded by two large bracts (2 cm in length) which are light-green in color with striations. The calyx contains 9 separate lancelolate green sepals each about 5 mm long. The flower is around 6 cm in length, purple in color and bell shaped. The throat of the flower is yellow in color. The flower has four stamens which are attached to the petal and come in two different size-sets. The fruit is in the form of a capsule. The plant does not seem to produce fertile seeds in India. Bush clock vine flower can be seen in white color- this variety is less common. This ornamental plant can be deployed as a hedge plant. In home gardens it can be grown in pots.
