Ipomoea alba

A. P. S, Lima, M. T. A., Buril & Melo, J. I. M. de, 2024, Synopsis of Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) in the state of Paraíba, Brazilian Northeastern, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 430-456 : 439

2. Ipomoea alba L., Sp. Pl. 1: 161. 1753. Fig. 3b Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from February to October; fruiting in October.

Flowering from March to September; fruiting from March to August

Distribution: Distributed worldwide, mainly in disturbed areas of shrub vegetation in riparian forests ( Wood et al., 2020), but the native distribution of this species is in Tropical and Subtropical America ( POWO, 2024). In Brazil, it is found in all regions and phytogeographic domains in humid habitats ( Simão-Bianchini et al., 2024), but intolerant to saline habitats on beaches and mangroves ( Alencar et al., 2021). It is rare in Paraíba, with few records in the IRs of Campina Grande and João Pessoa , especially in areas of the Atlantic Forest, but when found in the Caatinga area, it occurs near swamps.

Specimens examined: BRAZIL, Campina Grande , entre os distritos de Lagoa de Dentro e São José da Mata, 7º11’00.5”S, 35º58’56.6”W, 07.10.2022 ,

fl. & fr., A.P.S. Lima 43 (HACAM!). MarcaÇão,

Tabuleiro, Aldeia Jacaré de São Domingos,

30.08.2006, fl., G . B . Freitas et al. 125 (JPB!).

Notes: Ipomoea alba , commonly known as the “lady of the night” due to its nocturnal anthesis, can be confused with I. violacea in the study area. Both species share nocturnal flowering, glabrous to glabrescent leaf blades, glabrous or glabrescent sepals, and a hypocrateriform corolla longer than 5 cm, with a white limb and a yellowish to greenish tube. However, they can be distinguished by several key features: I. alba has aculeate branches, a leaf blade that varies from entire to 3-lobed with entire or toothed margins at the base, hastate or oval shape, inflorescences in monochasia or dichasia, oblong sepals with elongated subapical rostrum, a corolla 9–16 cm long, and exserted stamens. In contrast, I. violacea has smooth or slightly muricate branches, a leaf blade that is always entire with entire margins, cordiform to suborbicular shape, flowers that are isolated or rarely in clusters of 2–3, oval-rounded sepals with no subapical rostrum, a corolla 5–8 cm long, and included stamens. Furthermore, according to Alencar et al. (2021), I. alba is intolerant to saline environments, while I. violacea exclusively grows in these environments.

Figures

Fig. 3. a. Ipomoea acanthocarpa (Choisy) Hochst. ex Schweinf. & Asch., Inflorescence–side view. b. I. alba L., Inflorescence–side view. c. I. asarifolia (Desr.) Roem. & Schult., Habit. d. I. bahiensis Willd. ex Roemer & Schultes, Inflorescence–lateral view emphasizing the calyx with subapical rostrum.e. I. batatas (L.) Lamarck,Flower–side view.f. I. blanchetti Choisy, Habit emphasizing the three-lobed leaf.g. I. brasiliana (Mart. ex Choisy) Meisner var.subincana (Choisy) J.R.I. Wood & Scotland, reproductive branch. h. I. carnea Jacq. subsp. fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) D.F. Austin, Habit. i. I. decipiens Dammer, Inflorescence. j–k. I. imperati (Vahl) Grisebach: j. Habit; k. Flower– top view (Photos a. B.F. Rocha; b-c, e. A.P.S. Lima; d. C.C. Correia;f. M.G.M. Gonçalves; g. E.M. Rodrigues; h. K.A. GorgÔnio;i-k. I.C.M. Albuquerque).