Ipomoea harlingii D.F. Austin

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

245. Ipomoea harlingii D.F. Austin , Fl. Ecuador 15: 49. 1982. (Austin 1982a: 49)

Type.

ECUADOR. El Oro, Zaruma-Portovelo, Harling & Andersson 14154 (holotype GB).

Description.

Twining perennial of unknown height, stems with spreading yellowish trichomes. Leaves petiolate, 4.5-17 × 3.5-14 cm, ovate, acute with a distinct acumen c. 1 cm long, cordate, appressed pilose with long hairs on both surfaces; petiole 1.5-10 cm, pilose. Inflorescence of pedunculate, axillary, few-flowered compact cymes, sometimes reduced to single flowers; peduncles 2.5-6 cm, bearded; bracteoles 1-1.7 × 0.2-0.3 cm, linear-lanceolate, mucronate, pilose, deciduous; pedicels 5-10 mm, pilose; sepals very unequal, pilose with golden hairs externally; outer bract-like, 13-20 × 8-10 mm, ovate, cordate, acute, mucronate, middle sepal lanceolate, 11-13 × 4-5 mm, inner linear, c. 9 × 2 mm; corolla 4-4.5 cm long, narrowly funnel-shaped, blue-violet, pilose with stiff spreading hairs, limb apparently lobed. Capsules and seeds unknown.

Illustration.

Figure 128 .

Distribution.

Endemic to Ecuador, where it grows in low altitude cloud forest at 1000-1300 m.

ECUADOR. El Oro: the type collection. Loja: Hac. Banderones, 5 km from El Limo-Casadeos road, B. B. Klitgaard et al. 530 (AAH, GB, LOJA, QCNE).

Note.

Molecular evidence does not support the distinction of this species from Ipomoea neurocephala . However, morphologically it is easily distinguished by the linear-lanceolate bracteoles, which are positioned 5-10 mm below the flower so not forming an involucre. Further collections may demonstrate that the two species should be merged but we keep them apart for the time being.

Figures

Figure 128. Ipomoea harlingii. A habit B leaf C abaxial leaf surface D outer sepal E inner sepal. Drawn by Rosemary Wise from Harling & Anderson 14154.