Ipomoea lenis House

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

129. Ipomoea lenis House , Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 18: 188. 1908. (House 1908b: 188)

Type.

MEXICO. Zapatecas, near Berriozabal, E.W. Nelson 3889 (holotype NY00319110, isotypes GH, US).

Description.

Decumbent or erect perennial herb or subshrub 10-50 cm high, stem densely sericeous-pubescent, base woody, rootstock very stout and woody. Leaves subsessile, 0.6-1 × 0.2-0.4 cm, oblong-elliptic or obovate, acute or obtuse, apiculate, base narrowly cuneate, white-sericeous to tomentose on both surfaces. Inflorescence of solitary axillary flowers, becoming crowded upwards; peduncle 2-3 mm; bracteoles 1 mm, scale-like; pedicels 4-7 mm, thicker than peduncles, pubescent; sepals subequal, 7-10 mm, ovate, obtuse, outer tomentellous, inner tomentellous in central area but with broad scarious glabrous margins; corolla 4.5-6 cm long, funnel-shaped, reddish-purple with a white tube, pubescent in bud at apex, limb 4-5 cm diam. Capsules ovoid, rostrate, glabrous; seeds dark brown with short white marginal hairs.

Illustration.

Carranza (2007: 61).

Distribution.

Rare and endemic to central Mexico, principally Guanajuato, growing at around 2000-2300 m on stony slopes with low xerophytic scrub and open pine woodland.

MEXICO. Aguascalientes: San José de Gracia, H. Hernández et al. 234 (MO); Calvillo, Barranca Tortugas, M. de la Cerda & G. Garcia 1549 (IEB). Durango: N. of Fresnillo Junction, T. Walker s.n. (ARIZ). Guanajuato: SW of Santa Bárbara, Mun. Ocampo, E. Pérez & S. Zamudio 3373 (IEB); Sierra de Jacales, E. Carranza & J. Becerra 6094 (IEB); San Pedro Almoloyán, E. Carranza & J. Becerra 6071 (IEB). Jalisco: Encarnación de Díaz, S. Zamudio & C.A. Ramírez 15696 (IEB).

Note.

An erect species with white, sericeous to tomentose vegetative parts and very small leaves. Very similar to Ipomoea durangensis differing in the obtuse sepals. Specimens from Aguascalientes are somewhat intermediate with Ipomoea durangensis .