>From the posts received during the Convolvulaceae week I am really amazed to see the number of species and genera it contains. 5-6 years back when I started observing the flowers closely in pursuing my hobby I was aware of only Ipomoea as a genus and I never imagines that many *Ipomoea *flowers come from different plants and I used to neglect them. Now after several months it is heartening to say that I know many species now.(Credit goes to Efloraofindia too....) The flower shapes of Convolvulaceae are described differently. Sometimes the meanings are difficult to understand. I tried to compile some of these. *Campanulate : ** *
Bell-shaped. A flower with a wide tube and flared lobes (petal tips), typical of the Bellflower family (Campanulaceae). As in *Convolvulus*(This word is used for Genus *Volulopsis *in BSI Mah flora)* *Some Merremia members e.g.*M.gangetica* and *M.hederacea* *Funnelform : *As in *Argyreia *and *Ipomoea** * *Infundibuliform* : Funnel shaped(Funnel-shaped) (This word is used for *Cressa *and *Evolvulus*) A flower that widens gradually from the base, ending in an open or flared shape. *Trumpet-shaped* A flower that starts as a narrow tube, but widens into a flared mouth, where the petals often turn back. *Salverform* A flower with a long, thin tube, that widens suddenly into a flat-faced flower. *Hypocrateriform *:/ hypocraterimorphous 1. In *botany*, salver shaped: an epithet applied to a corolla consisting of a straight tube surmounted by a flat and spreading limb, as in the cowslip and phlox. http://theseedsite.co.uk/flowershapes.html *Subglobose*: Close to spherical; As in Cuscuta In Stictocardia and Ipomoea the Corolla is *Infundibuliform* or *Hypocrateriform * -- Dr Satish Phadke
