Ipomoea franciscana Choisy in A.P. de Candolle

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

155. Ipomoea franciscana Choisy in A.P. de Candolle , Prodr. 9: 357. 1845. (Choisy 1845: 357)

Type.

BRAZIL. [Bahia], Rio São Francisco, Martius s.n. (holotype M0184871).

Description.

Erect subshrub c. 2 m high, stems stout, woody, reddish, glabrous. Leaves shortly petiolate, 3-5(-7) × 0.7-1.5(-2.5) cm, oblong, oblanceolate, rounded to retuse, cuneate at base, glabrous; petioles 4-7 mm. Inflorescence of few-flowered cymes from the upper leaf axils, often reduced to single flowers; peduncles 4-13 mm; bracteoles caducous, not seen; pedicels 7-15 mm, usually longer than peduncles; sepals slightly unequal, elliptic, convex, rigid, outer 5-8 × 4-5 mm, obtuse, inner 8-11 × 6 mm, obtuse, margin very narrowly scarious; corolla 4.5-5.5 cm long, white to pale lilac, glabrous, narrowly funnel-shaped, limb c. 3 cm diam.; stamens held at mouth. Capsules ellipsoid, 13-14 × 7 mm, glabrous; seeds c. 5 mm long, dark brown with long brownish marginal hairs 10 mm in length.

Distribution.

Endemic to Brazil growing around Maracas on granite outcrops at 850-900 m in the Rio São Francisco valley.

BRAZIL. Bahia: Mun. Maracás, S.A. Mori et al. 10009 (CEEC, NY, MO); L. Queiroz & Fraga 3288 (HUEFS); ibid., Faz. Cana Brava, E. B. dos Santos & S. Mayo 295 (CEPEC, SP); ibid., R.M. Harley & A.M. Guilletti 28237 (K).

• Species 156-161 form a group of similar species with palmately lobed leaves.