Ipomoea eriocalyx (Mart. ex Choisy) Meisn. in Martius et al.

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

386. Ipomoea eriocalyx (Mart. ex Choisy) Meisn. in Martius et al. , Fl. Brasil. 7: 226. 1869. (Meisner 1869: 226)

Pharbitis eriocalyx Mart. ex Choisy in A.P. de Candolle , Prodr. 9: 342. 1845. (Choisy 1845: 342). Type. BRAZIL. Bahia, Soteropolin, Martius 2162 (M0184877, lectotype, designated here).

Batatas triloba Choisy , Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 8 (1): 49 [127]. 1838. (Choisy 1838: 49 [127]), non Ipomoea triloba L. (1753). Type. BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro, P. Lund 770 (holotype G-DC 00135165),

Convolvulus hewittaceus Kuntze , Rev. Gen. 3: 213. (Kuntze 1898: 213). Type. BRAZIL. Mato Grosso, O. Kuntze s.n. (holotype B†, isotype NY0621768).

Jacquemontia hewittacea (Kuntze) K. Schum., Bot. Jahrsber. (Just) 26 (1): 383. 1900. (Schumann 1900: 383).

Ipomoea hewittacea (Kuntze) J.R.I. Wood & Scotland, Kew Bull. 70 (31): 38. 2015. (Wood et al. 2015: 38).

Ipomoea piresii O'Donell , Arq. Mus. Paranaense 9: 229. 1952. ( O’Donell 1952: 229). Type. BRAZIL. Maranhão, J.M. Pires 1989 (holotype LIL001279, isotypes IAN, P, US

Type.

Based on Pharbitis eriocalyx Mart. ex Choisy

Description.

Perennial twining herb to 2 m, stems scabrous, pubescent or pilose, the hairs swollen at base. Leaves shortly petiolate, 2-8 × 1.5-5.5 cm, entire or 3-lobed, lanceolate to ovate, slightly constricted above base, apex acute to finely acuminate, mucronate, base cordate to sagittate with narrow sinus, auricles acute to rounded, sometimes shallowly bifurcate, both surfaces thinly pubescent to tomentose but pubescence denser on veins and margins, abaxially paler; petioles 1-7 cm, pubescent to densely pilose. Inflorescence of 1-4-flowered clusters at apex of long, axillary peduncles; peduncles 2.5-15 cm, pubescent to pilose; bracteoles 10-21 × 1-4 mm, linear-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, acute to acuminate, pubescent, persistent; pedicels very short, 1-6 mm, thinly pilose; so bracteoles ± appressed to the calyx; sepals slightly unequal, pilose and ciliate, outer 2-3 mm longer than inner, 13-16 × 3-5 mm, lanceolate to ovate, finely acuminate, inner 10-11 × 2-3 mm, lanceolate, margins scarious; corolla 3.5-7 cm long, funnel-shaped, pink, pilose on midpetaline bands, limb 2.5-5 cm diam., undulate. Capsules globose, 7-8 × 7-8 mm, glabrous; seeds 4.5 × 3 mm, obovoid, minutely scabrous.

Illustration.

Figures 6E , 188 .

Distribution.

An uncommon species of swampy grassland at low altitudes principally in Brazil, but also found in Bolivia and Colombia, occurring in scattered populations around the edges of the Amazonian region.

BRAZIL. J.B. Pohl 5208 (W). Alagoas: Mun. Satuba, M.N. Rodrigues et al. 1329 (SP). Amazonas: Humaitá, A. Janssen 351(RB). Bahia: C. Gaudichaud 10 (P); C.E.F. von Glocker 247 (NY); Salvador, J.R.L. da Paz & M.J. Oliveira 4 (HUEFS, SP); G. Gardner 893 (K, BM); Itacaré, L.V. Vasconcelas et al. 466 (HUEFS). Maranhão: Lorêto, Ilha de Balsa, G. & L. Eiten 4396 (K). Mato Grosso: Poconé, Stapf et al. 414 (HUEFS); Mun. Luciara, J. Pirani 1260 (ARIZ, FTG). Mato Grosso do Sul: Faz. Nhumirim, Nhecolândia, A. Pott et al. 2938 (CPAP); ibid., A. Pott 4332 (MBM, CPAP). Minas Gerais: Pirapora, Rio São Francisco, A. Krapovickas & C. Cristóbal 42864 (CTES). Pará: A. Ducke 8416 (MG). Piauí: Priri, A.S.F. Castro 738 (EAC). Rondônia: Cerejeiras, G. Martinelli 14454 (RB). Sergipe: A.C. Barreto 80 (RB). Tocantins: Rio Araguaia, N.T. Silva 4847 (NY).

BOLIVIA. Beni: Cercado, Ibiato, M.T. Martinez 34 (K, PB, USZ). Santa Cruz: Ángel Sandoval, J.R.I. Wood et al. 24825 (K, LPB, UB, USZ); Velasco, El Refugio, T. Killeen & R. Guillén 6699 (MO); ibid., J.R.I. Wood et al. 26374 (K, LPB, UB, USZ); Santa Rosa de la Roca, J.R.I. Wood et al. 27814 (OXF, K, LPB, USZ).

COLOMBIA. [Tolima]: Chaparral, Goudot s.n. (K).

Note.

A very distinctive species because of the subcapitate inflorescence with persistent lanceolate to ovate bracteoles, densely pilose sepals, and globose capsule. However, it is extremely variable especially in indumentum and leaf shape so it is difficult to believe all specimens belong to the same species unless a range of specimens is examined. Leaves vary from ovate, cordate with rounded auricles to lanceolate sagittate with simple or bifurcate acute auricles. Margins may be entire or with one or more irregular large teeth. Indumentum varies from simply pubescent to densely tomentose. Consequently we can see no reason to maintain Ipomoea hewittacea as a separate species and have united it with I. eriocalyx , the type of which is very similar to many specimens identified as I. hewittacea or I. piresii .

Figures

Figure 6. Sepals of Ipomoea species. A I. argyreia B I. tricolor C I. argentea D I. syringiifolia E I. eriocalyx F I. procurrens G I. tarijensis H I. regnellii. Photographs of A (Mendoza 4899); C (Mendoza 4705) and F (Mendoza 4900) by Moises Mendoza; B (Wood & Soto 27960) and H (Wood & Soto 27951) by Daniel Soto; D by Hector Keller; E (Wood et al. 27809) by Beth Williams; G (Wood 27920) by John Wood.

Figure 188. Ipomoea eriocalyx. A habit B stem C adaxial leaf surface D abaxial leaf surface E bracteole F inflorescence with bracteoles and sepals G flower H corolla opened out to show stamens J ovary and style. Drawn by Eliana Calzadilla A, B, E, F, H-J from Pott 4332; C, D from Pott et al. 2938; G from Gasparini s. n.