Operculina is a Genus coming under the Family Convolvulaceae, there are four sub genuses, they are:

A) St. Thomas Lidpod (Turpethum Turpethum)  Species 

b) St. Thomas Lidpod (Turpethum Turpethum)  Variety 

c) St. Thomas Lidpod (Ventricosa Ventricosa)  Variety 

d) Tansyleaf Lidpod (Pinnatifida Pinnatifida)  Species 

The genera contains plants that has the seed pod with a lid-like top. A pod with a lid itself makes its generic name Lidpod. This is the peculuiarity of the genera.

The original description of the genus Operculina. S. Manso was based upon the operculum like structure, quatrefoil in shape, which tops the capsule. An examination of large number of specimen of this and related species shows that the presence of an operculum not in this case a generic distinction, for often of two species closely and evidently related by all other characters, one will have a well developed operculum and the other none or sometime in a few specimens, only vestiges of one. While the type has irregular dehiscence some other species with an operculum have a valvular dehiscence to the capsules.

The common features that do occur throughout a considerable group of species that seem by a preponderance of characters to center co generically about the type of Operculina is as follows: the pear-shaped calyx, round at the base and narrowed  above; the large  imbricated sepals  more 

or less chartaceous or parchment like in fruit; the broadly campanulate-funnel-form tube of the corolla, and the strongly contorted anthers which are often protruding from the tube of the corolla. The capsules are usually large and thin walled often the upper hemisphere of the capsule thicker than the lower.

The extension of the genus seems to be the only satisfactory way to place properly those species variously assigned to Merremia, Batatas and Ipomea, with spirally-twisted anthers and other characters in common with species now placed in Operculina

18 genera in Convolvulaceae

 Scientific Name Common Name

 Aniseia Choisy

 aniseia

 Argyreia Lour.

 argyreia

 Astripomoea A. Meeuse

 astripomoea

 Bonamia Thouars

 ladys nightcap

 Calystegia R. Br.

 false bindweed

 Convolvulus L.

 bindweed

 Cressa L.

 alkaliweed

 Dichondra J.R. & G. Forst.

 ponysfoot

 Evolvulus L.

 dwarf morning-glory

 Ipomoea L.

 morning-glory

 Jacquemontia Choisy

 clustervine

 Merremia Dennst. ex Endl.

 woodrose

 Operculina Silva Manso

 lidpod

 Poranopsis Roberty

 poranopsis

 Stictocardia Hallier f.

 stictocardia

 Stylisma Raf.

 dawnflower

 Turbina Raf.

 turbina

 Xenostegia Austin & Staples

 morningvine