Ipomoea neurocephala Hallier

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

244. Ipomoea neurocephala Hallier f., Jahrb. Hamburg. Wiss. Anst. 16 (Beiheft 3): 40. 1899. (Hallier 1899b: 40)

Ipomoea igualensis Weath. , Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 45: 427. 1910. (Weatherby 1910: 427). Type. MEXICO. Guerrero, Iguala Cañon, C.G. Pringle 10054 (lectotype GH00054505, designated here; isolectotypes ARIZ, ASU, BRIT, CAS, COLO, CTES, DUKE, ENCB, F, GH00054505, LL, MEXU, MICH, MSC, NY, OKLA, RSA, SD, UC, US, VT, WIS).

Ipomoea federalis K. Afzelius , Svensk. Bot. Tidsk. 60: 483. 1966. (Afzelius 1966: 483). Type. BRAZIL. Distrito Federal, J.M. Pires et al. 9487 (holotype S07-4427 (fragment), epitype UB, designated here).

Ipomoea sawyeri D.F. Austin , Brittonia 43: 93. 1991. (Austin 1991d: 93). Type. PERU. Puno, F. de la Puente 3271 (holotype not received at US, isotypes FAU, now Fairchild (FTG), CIP).

Type.

BOLIVIA. [La Paz], Larecaja, Sorata, G. Mandon 1489 (holotype B†, isotypes K000612865, P03547986).

Description.

Twining, probably annual herb, stems hispid-pilose. Leaves petiolate, 2.5-7.5 × 2-8 cm, ovate, shallowly cordate and broadly cuneate onto the petiole, auricles rounded, apex shortly acuminate, both surfaces appressed pilose, abaxially paler; petioles 2-8 cm, hispid-pilose. Inflorescence of dense pedunculate axillary heads with 1-5 flowers; peduncles 2-12 cm, hispid-pilose; bracteoles 7-20 × 7-24 mm (but smaller inside head), ovate, acuminate, pale green with prominent dark green veins, persistent, forming an involucre round the flowers; pedicels 3 mm; sepals long-pilose, dissimilar, outer 13-14 × 4-5 mm, ovate, acuminate to an obtuse apex, inner linear-lanceolate, 9 × 2 mm; corolla 2-3.5(-5) cm long, pilose with very long hairs, narrowly funnel-shaped, tube pale with dark midpetaline bands, limb mauve, weakly lobed, c. 1.5 cm in diam. Capsules ovoid, glabrous, 4-seeded; seeds minutely puberulent.

Illustration.

Figure 127 .

Distribution.

This species is of very scattered occurrence in Andean Bolivia and Peru, the planalto of Brazil and central Mexico between 800 and 2400 m in areas of dry forest.

BRAZIL. Dist. Fed.: Universidade de Brasilia, H.S. Irwin et al. 9562 (FTG, MO, NY). Minas Gerais: Rio Arrependido, G. Pereira-Silva et al. 6303 (CEN).

BOLIVIA. La Paz: Muñecas, Río Charazani, A.F. Fuentes & R. Cuevas 7966 (LPB, MO, SP); Sud Yungas S.G. Beck et al. 29796 (K, LPB, MO, SP). Santa Cruz: Vallegrande, Pucarillo, G.A. Parada & V. Rojas 2609 (OXF, MO, USZ).

PERU. Cusco: La Convención, Choquellohuanca, Marin 2112 (F, CUZ); ibid., Potrero, C. Vargas 12735 (CUZ); ibid., Amaiba, C. Vargas 4189 (CUZ); ibid., Santa Ana, G. Calatayud et al. 1575 (MO, OXF); Urubamba, Macchu Pichu, L. Valenzuela et al. 1629 (MO, OXF).

MEXICO. Colima: Ixtlahuacán, E.J. Lott et al. 1928 (MEXU, MO). Guanajuato: J.C. Soto & G. Silva 4543 (MO). Est. México & Dist. Fed.: Temascaltepec, Nanchititla, G.B. Hinton 8480 (GBH); J.F. Doebley 518 (FTG). Guerrero: Mina, Manchon, G.B. Hinton 9588 (GBH, GH, MO); El Cuindancito, J. Soto Nuñez & G. Silva 4543 (MEXU). Jalisco: J.F. Doebley 452 (FTG); El Limón, A. Flores 3684 (MEXU). Michoacán: Aguililla, E.M. Martínez et al. 5380 (MEXU, MO); Chinicuila, E. Sahagún et al. 1197 (IEB). Nayarit: Amatlafán de Canas, P. Carilllo-R & J.A. Lomelí 3459 (IEB, MO).

Typification.

The holotype of Ipomoea federalis at S is a small fragment, so we have designated the isotype at UB as an epitype as this species can only be adequately interpreted through this second specimen. The synonymy of this species has been discussed extensively by Austin and Bianchini (1998).

Note.

Very distinct because of the inflorescence of bracteolate heads, the strongly veined bracteoles forming an involucre around the flowers. However it is quite variable with bracteoles not always as well developed, so sometimes merely lanceolate, and the corolla sometimes up to 5.5 cm as in Marin 2112, which is exceptionally robust.

Figures

Figure 127. Ipomoea neurocephala. A habit B stem C flower head with involucre D bracteoles E outer sepal F inner sepal G seeds. Drawn by Eliana Calzadilla from Parada & Rojas 2609.