Ipomoea merremioides Alain

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

185. Ipomoea merremioides Alain , Rev. Soc. Cub. Bot. 13: 8. 1956. (Liogier 1956: 8)

Type.

CUBA. Prov. Oriente [ Holguín], Río Lebisa, Sierra de Cristal, 30 Dec. 1955, Bro. Alain & M. López Figueiras 4834 (holotype HAC, isotype US).

Description.

Twining perennial liana, stems stout, woody, glabrous, but sometimes with lenticels. Leaves petiolate, 6-13 × 5.5-10 cm, ovate-deltoid, weakly cordate to subtruncate, finely acuminate, mucronate, margin entire, glabrous; petioles 2-6 cm. Inflorescence of pedunculate axillary, many-flowered compound cymes; peduncles 2-5 cm; bracteoles caducous; secondary peduncles 1-1.5 cm; pedicels 10-20 mm; sepals subequal, 4-5 mm, suborbicular, coriaceous, rounded; corolla 1.5-1.7 cm long, white, glabrous. Capsules ovoid, 11-12 mm long, glabrous; seeds ovoid, 6 × 4 mm long, densely pilose over the whole surface with hairs to 12 mm.

Distribution.

Endemic to eastern Cuba and perhaps restricted to the Sierra de Cristal. CUBA. Holguín: Sierra de Cristal, Montes de la Nicaro, subida a La Loma de los Mulos, Bro. Alain et al. 5339 (HAC, HAJB); ibid., Br. Alain et al. 9653 (HAC); Charrascos, km 5 de Sabanilla a Cajobabo, Baracoa, Bro. Alain et al. 7718 (HAC, HAJB).

Note.

This species is clearly related to Ipomoea alterniflora but is distinguished by the small corolla, short sepals, many-flowered inflorescence, stout woody stems and glabrous leaves.