''Rhodochiton atrosanguineus'' is a

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

perennial vine native to Mexico. It has been cultivated as an ornamental plant since at least 1836. Although the specific epithet is sometimes spelled ''atrosanguineum'', ''chiton'' in Greek is masculine, so the ending is correctly -''us''. ''Rhodochiton atrosanguineus'' has been known colloquially in the UK as the "black man's willy". Another common name is purple bell vine or simply purple bell. All ''Rhodochiton'' species are sometimes placed in the genus ''

Lophospermum ''Lophospermum'' is a genus of herbaceous perennial climbers or scramblers, native to mountainous regions of Mexico and Guatemala. Those that climb use twining leaf stalks. Their flowers are tubular, in shades of red, violet and purple, the large ...

''.

Description

Its dangling flowers have a pink, bell-shaped calyx of sepals surrounding a protruding, tubular corolla of purple-black petals. It has somewhat hairy, heart-shaped leaves, often with purple venation. The vine can reach three metres in length in perfect conditions, but more-likely 1.5-2.5 metres. The seeds are 3mm across.

Taxonomic history

Wayne J. Elisens Wayne may refer to: People with the given name and surname * Wayne (given name) * Wayne (surname) Geographical Places with name ''Wayne'' may take their name from a person with that surname; the most famous such person was Gen. "Mad" Anth ...

has outlined the somewhat confused taxonomic history of the name of this species. In 1829, Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini sent seeds and a description to individuals and botanical gardens under the name "''Rhodochiton volubile''", considering it to be a new genus; however the name was not formally published. In 1832, Zuccarini decided that it was actually a ''

'', and published the name ''Lophospermum atrosanguineum'', writing that "I held it at first to be new genus and sent the seeds obtained in the summer of 1829 to several gardens under the name ''Rhodochiton volubile''. The figure in the Botanical Register has convinced me of the identity of the genus." Not knowing of Zuccharini's change of name, in particular his publication of the epithet ''atrosanguineum'', in 1834 Christoph Friedrich Otto and

Albert Gottfried Dietrich Albert Gottfried Dietrich (8 November 1795 – 22 May 1856) was a German botanist born in Danzig. Dietrich was curator at the Botanical Garden in Berlin and was an instructor at the institute of horticulture at Berlin-Schöneberg. From 1833 to ...

published and illustrated ''Rhodochiton volubilis'', an illegitimate name since a prior epithet existed. In 1943, Rothmaler provided a legitimate combination in the genus ''Rhodochiton'', namely ''Rhodochiton atrosanguineus''.

Cultivation

''Rhodochiton atrosanguineus'' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

. This plant is undemanding if given full sun or near-full sun, well-drained soil, and general care. It will tolerate cold temperatures, but not freezing. Propagation is by seed sown in spring, or at 15-18 °C. Plants can be pruned in late winter to manage size and shape. Rhodochiton astrosanguineum flower from underneath.jpg, Flower from underneath Developing seed pod of Rhodochiton astrosanguineum.JPG, Developing seed pod Seeds of Rhodochiton atrosanguineus.JPG, Seeds (3mm across)

Notes

References

" (The local garden received in 1828 from Baron Karwinski seeds of a third species of this beautiful genus, which, in the warmer parts of Europe, promises to take a significant place among the finer ornamental plants. Because Don's generic character differs in some ways, I held it at first to be new genus and sent the seeds obtained in the summer of 1829 to several gardens under the name ''Rhodochiton volubile''. The figure in the Botanical Register has convinced me of the identity of the genus.) Plantaginaceae {{Plantaginaceae-stub