Ipomoea connata

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

92. Ipomoea connata J.R.I. Wood & L.V. Vasconc., Kew Bull. 72 (9): 6. 2017. (Wood et al. 2017a: 6)

Type.

BRAZIL. Bahia, basin of the upper São Francisco River, 4 km N of Bom Jesus da Lapa on main road to Ibotirama, 43 24W 13 13S, 450 m, 20 April 1980, R.M. Harley, G.L. Bromley, A.M. De Carvalho, J.L. Hage & H.S. Brito 21588 (holotype CEPEC, isotype K).

Description.

Twining perennial herb to 2 m, stems reddish-brown, glabrous, slightly angled, weakly winged when young. Leaves petiolate, 2.5-6 × 1.5-4 cm (only seen on inflorescence), ovate-deltoid, shallowly cordate with rounded to subacute auricles, acute or obtuse, margin undulate to sinuate, both surfaces glabrous, abaxially paler; petioles 0.6-3 cm, fused with the base of the peduncle for up to 10 mm, slender, glabrous. Inflorescence of pedunculate axillary cymes, sometimes (?usually) compounded into complex branched axillary inflorescences; peduncles 2.5-6.5 cm, glabrous, sometimes extended into a rhachis up to 14 cm long; primary bracteoles petiolate, foliose, ovate-deltoid, 5-20 × 3-11 mm, deciduous and often absent; secondary peduncles 0.7-3 cm long; tertiary peduncles 3-6 mm; ultimate bracteoles c. 1-1.5 mm, ovate, caducous; pedicels 11-21 mm; sepals unequal, glabrous, oblong-ovate, outer 6-8 × 3-4 mm, obtuse, inner 8-9 × 5 mm, rounded, scarious except in the central area; corolla 7-7.5 cm long, narrowly funnel-shaped, pink, glabrous, limb c. 3.5 cm diam. Capsules and seeds not seen.

Illustration.

Figure 60 .

Distribution.

Endemic to Bahia in Brazil growing in secondary vegetation with caatinga and dry deciduous forest, 450-500 m.

BRAZIL. Bahia: upper São Francisco River, Faz. Umbuzeiro da Onça, ca. 8 km from Bom Jesus da Lapa, R.M. Harley et al. 21535 (CEPEC, K); 4 km N of Bom Jesus da Lapa on main road to Ibotirama, R.M. Harley et al. 21588 (holotype CEPEC, isotype K).

Note.

Apparently unique amongst Brazilian species because the petiole is connate with the peduncle for part of its length.

Figures

Figure 60. Ipomoea connata. A habit B detail of habit showing partially fused petiole and peduncle C outer sepal D inner sepal E corolla opened out to show stamens F ovary and style G calyx after corolla has fallen. Drawn by Rosemary Wise from R. M. Harley et al. 21588.