Ipomoea acanthocarpa (Choisy) Hochst. ex Schweinf. & Asch., Beitr. Fl. Aethiop.

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 : 436

1. Ipomoea acanthocarpa (Choisy) Hochst. ex Schweinf. & Asch., Beitr. Fl. Aethiop. 277. 1867.

Figs. 3a & 4a–b

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from March to September; fruiting from March to August.

Distribution: It is distributed across Africa, South America, and Central America with isolated records in Costa Rica, and on the Asian continent, only in India ( Wood et al., 2020; POWO, 2024). In Brazilian territory, it occurs in the North and Northeast associated with the Amazon, Caatinga, and Atlantic Forest domains ( Simão-Bianchini et al., 2024). In Paraíba it is common, found in all IRs of the state, especially in Caatinga vegetation, both in preserved and anthropized areas, with few records for the Atlantic Forest.

Specimens examined: BRAZIL, Paraíba, Araruna, acesso à estrada da Boca, 16.07.2003, fl. & fr., A .

Almeida 411 (EAN!); Nova Palmeira, Sítio Esperas,

17.03.2022, fl. & fr., A . P. S . Lima 17 ( HACAM!) ;

Patos, Barragem da Farinha , 14.05.2012, fl., C .

Torres 307 (CSTR!); São José de Piranhas, Sítio

Frade, beira de estrada, 6º58’20.0”S, 38º32’16.8”W,

09.08.2015, fl., Á . N .T. Bandeira 115 (HACAM!).

Notes: It can be recognized as a herbaceous vine with simple leaves, cordate, deltoid, or oval leaf blade, entire margins or 1–2-toothed at the base, short pedicels (0.2–0.5 cm) long, sepals with conspicuous scarious margins, the outer ones rough and slightly smaller (c. 0.2 cm) than the inner ones, corolla small (2.5–3.5 cm long), pink, campanulate, stamens included, and capsules with an elongated apicule c. 0.5 cm long, rigid, thornlike.

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).

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).