Ipomoea megalantha

Wood, John R. I., Munoz-Rodriguez, Pablo, Williams, Bethany R. M. & Scotland, Robert W., 2020, A foundation monograph of Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) in the New World, PhytoKeys 143, pp. 1-823 : 1

28. Ipomoea megalantha J.R.I. Wood & Scotland, Kew Bull. 72 (9): 18. 2017. (Wood and Scotland 2017a: 18)

Type.

PARAGUAY. In viciniis Caaguazú, E. Hassler 9114 (holotype BM00089494, isotypes, G, K, MO, NY, P, SI, S, US).

Description.

Perennial subshrub; root a woody xylopodium of unknown size but at least 2 cm thick and 8 cm long; stems decumbent or ascending, woody, pilose, glabrescent when old, 10-40 cm long. Leaves shortly petiolate, 1.5-9.5 × 0.5-5, oblong to ovate, obovate or elliptic, often trifurcate on the same plant, apex obtuse or acute, mucronate, base broadly to narrowly cuneate, margin entire, both surfaces pilose, more densely so on the veins; petioles 2-9 mm, pilose. Inflorescence of solitary, axillary flowers arising from towards the base of the stem; peduncles 2.5-6 cm, pilose; bracteoles 13-27 × 1-3 mm, linear-lanceolate, pilose, persistent; pedicels 3-11 mm, pilose; sepals slightly unequal, lanceolate, finely acuminate, outer 17-20 × 3-6 mm, abaxially pilose, inner up to 22 mm long, the central area pilose, the margins scarious, glabrous; corolla 8.5-9.5 cm long, ± funnel-shaped, gradually widened from base, midpetaline bands densely pilose; limb 5-6 cm, diam., unlobed. Capsules and seeds unknown.

Illustration.

Figures 8L , 24 .

Distribution.

Only known from the Department of Caaguazú in Paraguay, where it grows in cerrado.

PARAGUAY. Caaguazú: B. Balansa 1174 (P); P. Jorgensen 4859 (A, F, S); A. Krapovickas et al. 45769 (CTES, K).

Note.

Ipomoea megalantha is distinguished by its large corolla about 9 cm in length. It is similar in habit and indumentum to I. hirsutissima but also differs in its trifurcate leaves. Ipomoea acutisepala has longer trailing stems, leaves with petioles 1-3 cm long, shorter, somewhat caducous bracteoles, a usually branched inflorescence, shorter sepals (13-17 mm long) and shorter corolla.

Figures

Figure 8. Corollas showing variations in form (side view), size, limb lobing and stamen exsertion. A Ipomoea argentea B I. repanda C I. neei D I. electrina E I. habeliana F I. santillanii G I. nationis H I. rubriflora J I. longistaminea K I. megapotamica L I. megalantha M I. neriifolia N I. syringifolia P I. ramosissima Q I. elongata R I. mucronatoproducta. A from Wood et al. 25639 and photo; B from Whitefoord 5244; C from Skutch 2043; D from Breedlove 27626; E from Bentley 203; F from Bourgeau 3024; G from Saunders 987; H from Wood et al. 27678; J from Pastore et al. 2678; K from Wood et al. 28060; L from Hassler 9114; M from Rezende et al. 1011; N from Stutz 1426 and photo; P from Bang 2246; Q from Purpus 3904; R from Wood & Villarroel 25474. Drawn by Rosemary Wise.

Figure 24. Ipomoea megalantha. A habit B leaf C outer sepal D inner sepal E corolla opened out F ovary and style. Drawn by Rosemary Wise A, C-F from Hassler 9114; B from Jorgensen 4859.