Redstar is a fast growing, twining, twisting,
beautiful flowering vine that is a butterfly attractor. It is quite
easily mistaken for
Cypress Vine, as the flowers of the two
are closely similar. But one look at the leaves is enough to
distinguish them. The flowers are dull red or orange-red. Redstar
flowers are borne in in leaf-axils clusters of a half dozen or so.
Individual flowers have the typical morning glory shape, but are quite
small with a narrow tube around 4 cm long and an expanded flower a
little less than 2.5 cm across. The vine can reach 10 or more feet in
length. The alternate leaves are heart shaped at the base, and often
with small lobes. The leaves of Cypress Vine, on the other hand, are
fern-like. Leaves of Redstar are typically hairless, around 5-10 cm
long and about half as wide. The margins are often coarsely toothed,
and the tips are pointed. Redstar is also closely similar to
Scarlet Morning Glory. However
leaves of Scarlet Morning Glory are typically deeply 3-lobed. Redstar
is endemic to Argentina and Bolivia, cultivated widely.
Identification credit: Tabish
Photographed in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.
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The flower labeled Redstar is ...