[Corruption of Mexican quamo·chitl (ch = tſ), f. qua-, comb. form of quaiutl tree, † -mochitl, of unknown meaning.
The erroneous form quamoclit, found as early as 1689 in Tournefort’s Schola Botanica, is the basis of imaginary etymologies from Greek and Sanskrit.]
A sub-genus of climbing plants with brilliant flowers found in the tropical parts of America and Asia, belonging to the genus Ipomœa. (Formerly regarded as a distinct genus.)
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v., Quamoclit with very fine, cut, winged Leaves, commonly called in Barbadoes, Sweet-William.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., The species of quamoclit, enumerated by Mr. Tournefort, are these [etc.] Ibid., Quamoclit differs from bindweed, or convolvulus, in the shape of the flower.
1755. Gentl. Mag., XXV. 408. As to specimens I sent you of the bastard quamoclit [printed quarnoclif].
1841. Penny Cycl., XIX. 193/1. Quamoclit … vulgaris is common in every part of India.
1892. Bentham & Hooker, Brit. Flora (ed. 6), 305. The exotic genus Ipomœa, including Pharbitis and Quamoclit … supplies some of our most beautiful greenhouse and hothouse climbers.
