Ipomoea villifera House

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

246. Ipomoea villifera House , Muhlenbergia 5: 70. 1909. (House 1909a: 70)

Type.

GUATEMALA. Huehetenango, near Jacaltenango, E.W. Nelson 3579 (holotype US00111486).

Description.

Climbing perennial to 4 m, stem muriculate, densely pilose with brownish hairs. Leaves petiolate, rather large, 7-12 × 6-12 cm, orbicular to ovate, entire or weakly 3-lobed, acute to acuminate, base cordate, adaxially pubescent, abaxially whitish, densely pubescent; petioles 5-7 cm. Inflorescence subcapitate, formed of pedunculate, bracteate heads; peduncles 11-20 cm, villous; bracteoles 20-25 × 5 mm, narrowly oblong-ovate, acuminate, ± persistent; pedicels very short, 0-5 mm; sepals subequal, 16-22 mm, broadly lanceolate, acuminate, villous; corolla c. 5 cm long, funnel-shaped, purple, villous on tube and lobes. Capsules and seeds not known.

Distribution.

A plant of forest and scrubby swamp below 1300 m over a limited area of Mesoamerica; apparently uncommon.

HONDURAS. Ocotepeque, Sinuapa, A. Molina et al. 31434 (MO).

GUATEMALA. Huehuetenango, Río Seligua, L.O. Williams et al. 41319 (BM, F, MO); Chiquimula, Esquipulas, A Molina & A.R. Molina 25159 (BM, F, MO).

MEXICO. Chiapas: Ixtapa, R.M. Laughlin 2157 (F); Pinola las Rosas, Teopisca, D.E. Breedlove 41154 (MO). Oaxaca: San Miguel Chimalapa. Río Portamonedas, S. Maya 2441 (MEXU).

Note.

Probably closely related to Ipomoea neurocephala but the corolla much larger and bracteoles narrowly oblong-ovate.