Ipomoea chapadensis

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

417. Ipomoea chapadensis J.R.I. Wood & L.V. Vasconc., Kew Bull. 72 (8): 2. 2017. (Wood et al. 2017a: 2)

Type.

BRAZIL. Bahia, Bonito, estrada Bonito para o assentamento Eugênio Lira, 11°59'54"S, 41°04'24"W, 10 Aug. 2014, L. P de Queiroz, J.R.I. Wood & H. Huaylla 15972 (holotype HUEFS, isotype OXF).

Description.

Twining perennial herb to 2 m; stems glabrous or thinly hirsute with short spreading hairs, less commonly tomentose. Leaves petiolate, 2-9(-13) × 1-4(-6) cm, narrowly (or rarely broadly) ovate, acute or acuminate and mucronate, base cordate with a narrow sinus and rounded auricles, both surfaces glabrous or tomentellous on the veins, adaxially with scattered hairs or hair bases only on both surfaces, rarely both surfaces tomentose; petioles 0.5-5 cm, the indumentum similar to that of the leaves. Inflorescence of solitary (rarely paired) axillary flowers; peduncles 0-5 mm often completely suppressed, glabrous to tomentose; bracteoles 2-3 × 0.5 mm, lanceolate, acuminate, persistent; pedicels 11-30 mm, thickened upwards, glabrous to tomentellous; sepals subequal, narrowly oblong-elliptic, acute and shortly mucronate, densely but very shortly puberulent, the margins slightly scarious, outer 7-11 × 3-3.5 mm, inner 9-13 × 4 mm, obtuse to rounded and mucronate; corolla 4.5-5(-7) cm long, funnel-shaped, pink, puberulent; limb 3.5(-5) cm diam., undulate. Capsules 10-11 × 7-9 mm, ovoid, rostrate, the style base 4-5 mm long, glabrous; seeds 7 × 4 mm, densely white-tomentose.

Illustration.

Figure 205 .

Distribution.

Endemic to the Chapada Diamantina in Bahia where it occurs along the borders of caatinga and cerrado vegetation.

BRAZIL. Bahia: Mun. Lençois, R.M. Harley et al. 14124 (K, SPF); Mun. Jacobina, B. Stannard et al. 2598 (ALCB, HUEFS, K); Mun. Palmeiras, L.V. Vasconcelos et al. 412 (HUEFS, SP); Mun. Rio de Contas, R.M. Harley et al. 25707 (CEPEC, K, SPF).

Note.

Very distinctive is the usually 1-flowered inflorescence with the peduncle almost completely suppressed so the bracteoles appear to be stipules. This serves to separate this species easily from Ipomoea regnellii to which it is obviously related. It is very variable in indumentum, some specimens (Harley et al. 25707, Cavalcanti et al. 330, Junqeira & Andrade 92) being markedly tomentose, others like Souza et al. 121 being glabrous. Intermediate states are often found. Melo 12022 (HUEFS) from the Mata Atlântica in Bahia is somewhat atypical because of its larger corolla and broadly ovate leaves, but the very short peduncle and solitary flower strongly suggest it is correctly placed.

Figures

Figure 205. Ipomoea chapadensis. A habit B base of peduncle with bracteoles C outer sepal D inner sepal E corolla opened up to show stamens F habit with more pubescent indumentum G calyx with fruit H seed J habit with broader leaves. Drawn by Rosemary Wise A, B from E. Souza et al. 121; C, D from Almeida-Silva & Barros 294; E J from E. Melo 12022; F from Projeto Chapada Diamantina 2598; G from T. Cavalcanti 330; H from Lima & Lima 291.