Ipomoea verruculosa (Pittier) O'Donell

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

171. Ipomoea verruculosa (Pittier) O'Donell , Lilloa 26: 397. 1953. ( O’Donell 1953a: 397)

Exogonium verruculosum Pittier, J. Washington Acad. Sci. 21: 142. 1931. (Pittier 1931: 142). Type. VENEZUELA. Aragua, zona xerofítica de Chuau, H. Pittier 12118 (holotype VEN, not seen, isotypes G, LIL, NY, US).

Ipomoea avicola D.F. Austin , Fl. Venezuela 8: 143. 1982. (Austin 1982b: 143), nom. superfl. based on Exogonium verruculosum Pittier

Type.

Based on Exogonium verruculosum Pittier

Description.

Twining subshrub to 1.5 m; stems glabrous, woody when old, strongly warted. Leaves petiolate, dimorphic, 2.5-4 × 2-3 cm, ovate cordate or, more commonly deeply 3-5-lobed with apical lobe elliptic, much larger than the laterals, apex obtuse, lobes contracted at base, both surfaces glabrous; petioles 1-2.2 cm. Inflorescence of axillary pedunculate cymes; peduncles 0.5-2.5 cm, glabrous, slightly warted; bracteoles 1.5-2 mm, ovate, obtuse, caducous; secondary peduncles 5-7 mm; pedicels relatively slender, 7-10 mm; sepals subequal, 5-7 mm long, oblong-elliptic, obtuse, glabrous, the inner ones with a rounded scarious apex; corolla 3-4.5 cm long, glabrous, hypocrateriform, the tube 2.5-3.3 cm, pale, limb 0.7-0.9 cm in diam., lobed, lobes deep red, 4-6 mm long, ovate, often reflexed; stamens exserted. Capsules ovoid, glabrous, c. 10 mm long; seeds 5 × 2.5 mm, pilose with long marginal hairs to 8 mm.

Distribution.

Endemic to NW Venezuela where it grows in xerophitic scrub up to 400 m, but usually near the coast.

VENEZUELA. Aragua: Distrito Giradot, Carretera Cata-Cuyagua, V.M. Badillo 4809 (FTG). Carabobo: Puerto Cabello, E. André s.n. (K); 5 km E of Puerto Cabello, W.J. Hahn et al. 5089 (FTG, MO, US); cumbre Gañango-Patanemo, B. Trujillo 8817 (FTG). Dist. Fed.: Mun. Vargas, Catia La Mar, N. Ramírez 2665 (FTG); Libertador, J. Steyermark 112744 (FTG, MO); Arrecife, L. Aristeguieta 4533 (VEN).

Note.

The approximate position of this species is inferred from its morphology.