Ipomoea kruseana Matuda

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

78. Ipomoea kruseana Matuda 36: 115. 1966, Anales Inst. Biol. Univ. Nac. México 36: 115. 1966. (Matuda 1966b: 115)

Type.

MEXICO. Guerrero, Mun. Mochitlán, Agua de Obispo, H. Kruse 744 (holotype MEXU00093332, isotypes CAS, ENCB, IEB).

Description.

Twining perennial from a tuberous rootstock, stem somewhat woody, tomentellous, up to 3 m long. Leaves shortly petiolate, 3-6.5 × 0.7-2.5 cm, oblong to narrowly elliptic, acute, base cuneate, adaxially green, obscurely tomentellous, abaxially white-sericeous to tomentellous; petioles 5-12 mm. Inflorescence of solitary (rarely paired) axillary flowers; peduncles 1.5-4 cm, obscurely sericeous; bracteoles 5-10 mm, linear; pedicels 10-15 mm, sericeous; sepals subequal, 14-20 × 3-5 mm, narrowly ovate, finely acuminate, white-sericeous, the inner with sericeous margins; corolla 5-6 cm long, funnel-shaped, pink or bluish, sericeous, limb 3-3.5 cm diam. Capsules globose, glabrous; seeds unknown.

Distribution.

Mixed oak and pine forest on stony soil at 1100 m.

MEXICO. Sine data, Bourgeau s.n. (P03538332). Guerrero: Mun. Mochitlán, Agua de Obispo, H. Kruse 6368 (IEB).

Note.

The Bourgeau collection differs somewhat from the type in its narrower leaves and slightly shorter sepals but in other ways conforms to this very distinctive species, which is characterised by the sericeous or tomentellous indumentum, persistent linear bracteoles and relatively large, narrowly ovate, acuminate sepals.

The placement of this species is provisional. The pubescent corolla and calyx strongly support its placement in the Jalapa radiation but a final decision cannot be made until this species has been successfully sequenced.