Ipomoea ensiformis

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

36. Ipomoea ensiformis J.R.I. Wood & Scotland, Phytokeys 88: 16. 2017. (Wood et al. 2017d: 16)

Type.

BRAZIL. Goiás, 5 km Alto Paraíso, Chapada dos Veadeiros, 1450 m, Gates & Estabrook 4 (holotype UB62303, isotypes MICH, RB).

Description.

Procumbent perennial herb, stems thinly pubescent, to 50 cm; rootstock a knotted woody xylopodium. Leaves shortly petiolate, 2-6 × 0.3-1.2 cm, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, base rounded, apex subacute to obtuse, very shortly mucronate, margin entire to undulate, glabrescent, the very young leaves pubescent; petioles 1-4 mm, puberulent. Inflorescence of solitary (rarely paired), axillary flowers borne on slender peduncles; peduncles 1.4-3.2 cm, slender, puberulent; bracteoles 3 × 1 cm, ovate, acuminate, relatively persistent; pedicels 5-6 mm, thinly puberulent; sepals subequal, outer 6-7 × 2.5-3 mm, oblong-ovate, obtuse, glabrous, inner similar but narrowly oblong-ovate, 7-8 mm long, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent centrally; corolla 3-4 cm long, pink, very sparsely pubescent on midpetaline bands, funnel-shaped, limb 3.5 cm diam. Capsules and seeds not seen.

Illustration.

Figure 29 .

Distribution.

Endemic to Goiás State in central Brazil. It is one of several Ipomoea species, which are apparently restricted to the Chapada dos Veadeiros and, like Ipomoea graminifolia , was found at the exceptionally high altitude of 1450 m.

BRAZIL. Goías: only known from the type collection.

Notes. Similar to Ipomoea campestris Meisn. but prostrate, glabrescent (pubescent only on young parts), the leaves petiolate (not subsessile), with an obtuse apex (not strongly acute). The sepals are <8 mm long, the outer glabrous (not 8-11 mm long, pubescent). The corolla is smaller (3-4 cm long) and relatively widely funnel-shaped.

Figures

Figure 29. Ipomoea ensiformis. A habit B rootstock C base of young leaves showing indumentum D outer sepal E inner sepal. Drawn by Rosemary Wise from Gates & Estabrook 4.