Ipomoea megapotamica subsp. velutina

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

61b. Ipomoea megapotamica subsp. velutina J.R.I. Wood & Scotland, Kew Bull. 72 (10): 13. 2017. (Wood and Scotland 2017b: 13)

Ipomoea nyctaginea var. cordifolia Choisy in A.P. de Candolle , Prodr. 9: 369. 1845. (Choisy 1845: 369).

Type.

BRAZIL. Pernambuco. Tapera, B. Pickel 3037 (holotype RB, isotypes NY, P).

Diagnosis. Leaves adpressed pilose on the abaxial surface; sepals usually only 5-6 mm long.

Distribution.

The principal variety in NE Brazil and the only variety in Venezuela. BRAZIL. Alagoas: Pão de Açucar, Lyra-Lemos et al. 6889 (RB). Ceará: Planalto de de Ibíapaba, Figueirido 574 (RB). Maranhão: P. Martins 18/4/79 (RB). Paraíba: Coêlho de Moraes 2126 (MO, US). Pernambuco: Serra Talhada, E.P. Heringer et al. s.n. (RB). Piauí: Rizzini s.n.12/4/74 (RB); Caracol, P.N. Serra das Confusões, G. Martinelli et al. 16358 (RB).

VENEZUELA. Sine data: Moritz 497. Cojedes: Las Peonías, Delascio 3401 (FTG). Guarico: Mesa de el Sombrero, H. Pittier 12486 (US). Monagas: Mun. Freitas, Fernández et al. 9612 (US). Portuguesa: Araure, orillas del Río Auro, G. Aymard & Ortega 3078 (NY).

Note.

Ipomoea megapotamica is, usually recognisable by the much-branched but clearly cymose structure of the inflorescence and the sepals with distinct dark glands near their base. It differs from Ipomoea hieronymi in the shorter sepals and distinctly branched, compound inflorescences. The sepals, pedicels and, sometimes, the leaves are gland-dotted. This species is also close to Ipomoea opulifolia but it is almost always distinguished easily by the entire (rarely very shallowly lobed) leaves which, in subsp. megapotamica , are relatively small and sparsely pubescent beneath.