Skyblue clustervine

Appearance

Annual vine with a woody base and non-woody, hairy stems, twining and up to 3 feet long.
Leaves 1 - 3 inches long or longer, alternate, entire, hairy, lance-shaped with rounded bases and pointed tips.
Flowers 0.5 - 1 inch across when open, opening in the morning, closing by midafternoon; showy, usually blue, sometimes white or pale pink; in clusters on long stalks arising in the angles of leaf and stem, only 1 - 2 flowers per cluster open at any one time.
Sepals 5, hairy, very small.
Fruit a small, rounded capsule with persistent sepals.
Skyblue clustervine is distinguished from other morning-glory species by having small blue flowers, a woody base, and branched hairs on its leaves and stems.

Naming

Synonyms:
Jacquemontia pentantha (Jacq.) G. Don
Convolvulus pentanthos Jacq.

Distribution

USA, West Indies, Central and South America

Status

Known from about 12 preserves, it is threatened by competition from exotic pest plants.
Protect rocklands and coastal habitats by conservation easement or purchase. Eradicate exotic pest plants.

Habitat

Pine rockland, edges of rockland hammock, disturbed openings in hammocks, coastal rock barren.