Ipomoea mirandina (Pittier)

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

269. Ipomoea mirandina (Pittier) O’ Donell, Lilloa 26: 370.1953. ( O’Donell 1953a: 370)

Exogonium mirandinum Pittier, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 21: 143. 1931. Type. VENEZUELA. Miranda, H. Pittier 12217 (holotype US00111498, isotype NY).

Type.

Based on Exogonium mirandina Pittier

Description.

Liana to 5 m, stems woody subglabrous, striate. Leaves petiolate, 8-14 × 6.5-12.5 cm, ovate, shortly acuminate, broadly cordate, glabrous, abaxially paler; petioles sulcate, 4.5-8 cm. Inflorescence of 2-5-flowered axillary cymes; peduncles 6-8 (-19)cm, stout, glabrous; bracteoles 2 mm, filiform, caducous; secondary peduncles (if present) 3-5 cm, arching; pedicels 1-2.5 cm; sepals dissimilar, outer 18-25 × 12-16 mm, broadly obovate, convex, obtuse to rounded, glabrous, purple-brown, inner similar in size but truncate with broad scarious margins, all drying dark brown; corolla glabrous, hypocrateriform, tube 5-6 cm long, somewhat widened in middle to 12 mm, then narrowed to 6 mm, brown, limb 6-7 cm diam., deep pink, stamens exserted; pink. Capsules glabrous, 15 mm ovoid; seeds 8 × 5 mm, densely pilose with brownish hairs c. 5 mm long.

Illustration.

Figure 138 .

Distribution.

Hill forests at c. 700-1200 m in Venezuela and Panama. Its occurrence in Colombia is to be expected.

VENEZUELA. Aragua: Dist. Ricaurte, carretera Tejerias-Tiara, cerca de Caguita, Bunting 4301 (FTG); Tovar, A. Fendler 942 (K, MO). Carabobo: H. Pittier 8034 (US). Dist. Fed.: Avila, Quebada Chacaito, B. Manara s.n. (FTG). Miranda: Colinas de Carrizal, G. & B. Morillo 4563 (FTG); Cerro Naiguatá, J. Steyermark 91853 (MO). Sucre: Peninsula de Paria, camino de Manical a Los Pocitos de Sta. Isabel, NW de Irapa, K. Dumont et al. VE-7514, (FTG); Manical, J. Steyermark & R. Liesner 120821 (MO). Yaracuy: A. Gentry & L. Puig 14381 (MO).

PANAMA. Altos de Campana, A. Gentry 5768 (MO, FTG); W.H. Lewis et al. 3155(FTG, MO); M.D. Correa & E. Montenegro 10149 (FTG, PMA); W. D’Arcy 9556 (CTES, MO); above Río Primero Brazo, 5 miles NW Santa Fe, T. Croat 23132 (FTG, MO).

Note.

The very large sepals combined with the hypocrateriform corolla with exserted stamens make this species distinctive. Its placement here is provisional.

Figures

Figure 138. Ipomoea mirandina. A habit B outer sepal C inner sepal. Drawn by Rosemary Wise from Fendler 942.