Ipomoea involucrata P. Beauv.

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

419. Ipomoea involucrata P. Beauv. , Fl. Owar 2: 52. 1817. (Beauvois 1817: 52)

Convolvulus perfoliatus Schumach. & Thonn. , Beskr. Guin. Pl. 89. 1827. (Schumacher and Thonning 1827: pl. 89). Type. GHANA. Thonning s.n. (syntypes C).

Ipomoea operosa C.H. Wright, Bull. Misc. Inf., Kew 1897: 275 . 1897. (Wright 1897: 275). Type. MALAWI. Zomba, Whyte (syntype K000097217) and Kirk s.n. (syntype K000097216).

Ipomoea involucrata var. operosa Verdc. , Kew Bull. 13: 206.1958. (Verdcourt 1958: 206).

Ipomoea involucrata var. burtii Verdc. , Kew Bull. 13: 206.1958. (Verdcourt 1958: 206).Type. TANZANIA. Kondo anear Sambala, B.D. Burtt 2155 (holotype K000097096, isotype EA).

Ipomoea austinii Infante-Betancour , Caldasia 36 (2): 248. 2014. (Infante-Betancour 2014: 248). Type. COLOMBIA. Cesar, San Alberto, M. Carillo-F 557 (holotype COL).

Type.

NIGERIA, Oware, P. de Beauvois (holotype G00023040).

Description.

Variable trailing or twining annual or short-lived perennial herb; stems rather slender, pubescent to asperous-pilose in all parts. Leaves petiolate, 2.5-6(-10) × 1.5-5(-8.5) cm, ovate, acute or obtuse and mucronate, cordate with rounded auricles, both surfaces pubescent to tomentose, abaxially paler; petioles 2-7 cm, pubescent. Inflorescence of axillary pedunculate, involucrate heads; peduncles 2.5-10 cm, densely pubescent to tomentose; outer bracteoles united at base to form a boat-shaped involucre around the flowers, sessile, 2.5-6.5 × 0.8-1.5 cm, each ovate, acuminate, folded, pubescent; inner bracteoles much smaller, obovate to linear-oblong; pedicels very short; flowers few to many; sepals unequal, 6-15 × 1.5-4 mm, acute to acuminate, pubescent to setose, outer lanceolate, inner 2-3 mm shorter, ovate; corolla 3.5-4.5 cm long, funnel-shaped, pink, less commonly white, pubescent; limb 3-4 cm diam., entire. Capsules 6 mm, globose, glabrous; seeds glabrous or shortly pubescent, c. 4 mm long.

Illustration.

Infante-Betancour (2014: 249) as Ipomoea austinii .

Distribution.

Common in West and Central Africa but a recent introduction in the neotropics in a Colombian oil palm plantation.

COLOMBIA. Cesar: type of Ipomoea austinii .

Note.

Probably an adventive in the New World but may become established.

We have not seen M. Carillo-F 557 but the shape and measurements of the sepals accompanying the protologue of Ipomoea austinii (Infante-Betancour 2014) clearly indicate that it is I. involucrata , rather than the very similar I. pileata Roxb. The drawing of the inflorescence, however, is very stylised and difficult to interpret.

••• The following four species are unplaced within Ipomoea . We are unable to make even a guess at their likely placement.