Ipomoea heptaphylla Sweet, Hort. Brit.

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 : 444

17. Ipomoea heptaphylla Sweet, Hort. Brit. , 2: 372. 1830. Fig. 4r

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from February to October; fruiting from February to September.

Distribution: This species is distributed throughout the Neotropics, with a discontinuous occurrence, often found in dry areas such as the Brazilian Caatinga and Chaco ( Wood et al., 2020). In Brazil, it occurs in the Central-West, North, Northeast, and Southeast regions, in areas of Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest domains ( Simão-Bianchini et al., 2024). In Paraíba it is occasional, found in all four IRs in areas of Caatinga or Caatinga-Atlantic Forest transition.

Specimens examined: BRAZIL, Cajazeiras - Brejo das Freiras, 15.08.1979, fl. & fr., C. A. B. Miranda s.n. ( JPB4424 !). Gurinhém, 08.07.1994, fl., L. P. Felix

6528 ( PEUFR!). Patos, AÇude Jatobá, 12.09.2012 ,

fl. & fr., C. Torres 363 ( CSTR!, PEUFR!). São João do Cariri , Fazenda Experimental, 05.05.1987 ,

fl., L. P. Felix 552 ( HST). Uiraúna, AÇude na comunidade Sítio Porcina, 05.09.2018, fl. & fr .,

L.F. Lima, 1257 (RB, digital image!).

Notes: This species can be compared to I. tenera due to their shared characteristics of being completely glabrous, having compound leaves with 5–7 leaflets, spirally twisted peduncles, and a tiny corolla (1–2.5 cm long), infundibuliform to campanulate, pink with a purplish mouth, and included stamens. However, they differ in the branches and sepals: I. hederifolia has muricate branches and muricate or smooth outer sepals with an acute to obtuse apex, while I. tenera has smooth branches and fimbriated outer sepals with an attenuated apex.

Figures

Fig. 4. a-b. Ipomoea acanthocarpa (Choisy) Hochst. ex Schweinf. & Asch.: a. Calyx; b. Fruit. c-e. I. aristolochiifolia G.Don; c. Reproductive branch,emphasizing the peduncle arising through the sinus at the base of the leaf; d. Calyx; e. Fruit. f-g. I. batatas (L.) Lamarck: f. Sepals;g. Fruit. h. I. batatoides Choisy: Reproductive branch. i: I. blanchetti Choisy: Reproductive branch. j-k. I. calyptrata Dammer: j. Reproductive branch; k. Calyx with persistent bracteoles. l. I. decipiens Dammer: Open calyx–posterior view. m-p. I. eremnobrocha D.F. Austin,: m. Reproductive branch; n. Sericeous indument and glands on the adaxial surface of the leaf; o. Flower, emphasizing the campanulate corolla; p. Fruit. q. I. hederifolia L., Inflorescence.r. I. heptaphylla Sweet, Reproductive branch.s. I. incarnata (Vahl) Choisy,Calyx and bracteoles (Drawn by F.Martins).