Parsonsia alboflavescens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Parsonsia alboflavescens
Parsonsia alboflavescens
from Icones Plantarum Indiae Orientalis, vol. 4(2): t. 1303 (1846)
Conservation status
NT (TPWCA)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Parsonsia
Species:	alboflavescens
Occurrence data from GBIF
Synonyms
List Aganosma concanensis Hook. Aganosma laevigata (Moon) J.Graham Apocynum reticulatum L. Apocynum vincifolium Burm.f. Chaetosus volubilis Benth. Echites laevigatus Moon Echites spiralis Blanco Helicandra sinensis Hook. & Arn. Heligme javanica (Blume) Blume Heligme korthalsiana Miq. Heligme minahassae Teijsm. & Binn. Heligme rheedei Wight Heligme spiralis (Wall. ex G.Don) Thwaites Helyga javanica Blume Helygia javanica (Blume) Blume Lyonsia sumatrana Ridl. Lyonsia viridiflora F.M.Bailey Parsonsia acuminata Wall. Parsonsia confusa Merr. Parsonsia cumingiana A.DC. Parsonsia helicandra Hook. & Arn. Parsonsia howii Tsiang Parsonsia javanica (Blume) K.Schum. Parsonsia korthalsiana (Miq.) Boerl. Parsonsia kunstleri King & Gamble Parsonsia laevigata (Moon) Alston Parsonsia longipedunculata Merr. Parsonsia magnifolia Elmer Parsonsia minahassae (Teijsm. & Binn.) Koord. Parsonsia momiensis Kaneh. & Hatus. Parsonsia oblancifolia Merr. Parsonsia oblonga Wall. ex G.Don Parsonsia oblongifolia Merr. Parsonsia panniculata Pichon Parsonsia pauciflora Wall. Parsonsia rheedei Fern.-Vill. Parsonsia spiralis Wall. ex G.Don Parsonsia spiralis Vidal Periploca alboflavescens Dennst. Spirostemon spiralis Griff.

Parsonsia alboflavescens is a type of woody vine. It belongs to the Apocynaceae family, which includes many flowering plants. You can find this vine growing in warm, tropical, and subtropical parts of Asia and even in Northern Australia.

In the Northern Territory of Australia, this plant is considered "near threatened". This means it could become endangered if we don't protect it.

Understanding the Name of Parsonsia alboflavescens

Scientists give plants special names to help identify them. Parsonsia alboflavescens was first described in 1818 by a scientist named Dennstedt. He called it Periploca alboflavescens back then.

Over time, many scientists studied this plant. They gave it different names. In 1977, a scientist named Mabberley looked at all the old descriptions. He found that Dennstedt's first description was the oldest. This is why the plant's current name uses the alboflavescens part from Dennstedt's original name.

Old Drawings of the Plant

Scientists often make detailed drawings of plants. These drawings help others study and identify them. Below are some old illustrations of Parsonsia alboflavescens. They come from a book called "Hortus Indicus Malabaricus," published in 1689.

• Rheede tot Drakestein, H.A. van, Hortus Indicus Malabaricus, vol. 9: t. 9 & 10 (1689)
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What Does the Name Mean?

The name Parsonsia alboflavescens has a special meaning. The first part, Parsonsia, is the name of the plant group (genus). It was given by Robert Brown. He named it to honor James Parsons (1705–1770), who was a physician.

The second part of the name, alboflavescens, describes the plant's flowers. It comes from two Latin words:

• albus means "white"
• flavescens means "turning yellow" or "becoming yellow"

So, alboflavescens tells us that the flowers of this vine are white and turn yellow.