Ipomoea dolichopoda

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

420. Ipomoea dolichopoda J.R.I. Wood & R. Degen, Phytokeys 88: 14. 2017. (Wood et al. 2017d: 14)

Type.

PARAGUAY. Caazapá, Castor Cue, 26°10'S, 55°20'W, I. Basualdo 002775 (holotype FCQ, isotype MO).

Description.

Trailing herb, probably perennial; stems thinly pilose with white hairs. Leaves petiolate, 4-6.5 × 0.8-1.5 cm, slightly oblique, oblong, base cuneate, apex obtuse and mucronate, margins ciliate, adaxially glabrous, abaxially pilose on the veins; petioles 7-8 mm, thinly pilose. Inflorescence of pedunculate axillary cymes with 1-4 flowers borne on long secondary peduncles; primary peduncles 0.3-1.2 cm; secondary peduncles 7-12 cm, thinly pilose; bracteoles 9-12 × 1 mm, filiform, persistent until anthesis; pedicels 8-15 mm, pilose; sepals 10-14 × 3-4 mm, ovate, finely acuminate to a mucronate apex, base rounded to truncate, outer sepals pilose except at margins, inner sepals slightly shorter with glabrous, scarious margins; corolla c. 5.5 cm long, broadly funnel-shaped, glabrous in bud, pink, limb c. 3.5 cm diam. Capsules and seeds unknown.

Illustration.

Figure 206 .

Distribution.

Only known from the type collection which was found in “praderas”, presumably some kind of cerrado grassland in eastern Paraguay.

PARAGUAY. Caazapá: type collection.

Note.

This species bears a strong superficial resemblance to Ipomoea attenuata but differs in the glabrous corolla. Both species have somewhat similar oblong, shortly petiolate leaves and ovate sepals with a distinct truncate base and acuminate apex. Ipomoea dolichopoda , however, can be distinguished at first glance by the long white hairs, which are scattered over all vegetative parts. It is also distinct in the very short primary peduncles combined with the very long secondary peduncles, a combination that in our experience is unique in Ipomoea .

Figures

Figure 206. Ipomoea dolichopoda. A habit B leaf apex C leaf base showing peduncle D Outer sepal E inner sepal F corolla opened out to show stamens G ovary and style. Drawn by Rosemary Wise from I. Basualdo 002775.