Abstract
The nativity of Merremia tuberosa is examined with historical, ecological, linguistic, cladistic, and biogeographic data. All data indicate that the species was originally from southern Mexico and nearby Central America. The closest relatives of M. tuberosa are M. austinii and M. discoidesperma. Merremia tuberosa was first recorded from Mexico as xixicamatic in the middle 1500s by Fr. Bernadino Sahaguin; no connection was made between that plant and the Convolvulaceae by subsequent authors. Plukenet later recorded M. tuberosa in Jamaica in 1691. By 1731 or earlier M. tuberosa was cultivated at the Chelsea Physic Garden, London, England. Soon afterward, wood rose had been spread around the world and grown for medicine. The roots contain resins that formerly were used across the tropics and in Europe as laxatives. Now plants are grown for their flowers and ornamental fruits that are used by florists.
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