Ipomoea dolichopoda J.R.I.Wood & R.Degen, 2017

Wood, John R. I., Munoz-Rodriguez, Pablo, Degen, Rosa & Scotland, Robert W., 2017, New species of Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) from South America, PhytoKeys 88, pp. 1-38 : 11-12

Ipomoea dolichopoda J.R.I.Wood & R.Degen sp. nov. Figure 7

Diagnosis.

Ipomoea dolichopoda resembles I. attenuata in the oblong, shortly petiolate leaves, persistent bracteoles and ovate sepals with a distinct truncate base and attenuate apex but differs in the long, stiff white hairs, 1-2 mm in length, which are scattered over all vegetative parts, the very short primary peduncles combined with very long secondary peduncles, the pilose outer sepals and the glabrous exterior of the corolla. Table 1 .

Type.

PARAGUAY. Caazapá, Castor Cue , 26°10'S, 55°20'W, I. Basualdo 002775 (holotype FCQ, isotype MO) .

Description.

Trailing herb, probably perennial; stems thinly pilose with white hairs. Leaves petiolate, 4-6.5 × 0.8-1.5 cm, slightly oblique, oblong, base cuneate, apex obtuse and mucronate, margins ciliate, adaxially glabrous, punctate, abaxially pilose on the veins; petioles 7-8 mm, thinly pilose. Inflorescence of pedunculate axillary cymes with 1-4 flowers borne on long secondary peduncles; primary peduncles 0.3-1.2 cm; secondary peduncles 7-12 cm, thinly pilose; bracteoles 9-12 × 1 mm, filiform, persistent till anthesis; pedicels 8-15 mm, pilose; sepals 10-14 × 3-4 mm, ovate, finely acuminate to a mucronate apex, base rounded to truncate, outer sepals pilose except at margins, inner sepals slightly shorter with glabrous, scarious margins; corolla c. 5.5 cm long, broadly funnel-shaped, glabrous even in bud, pink, limb c. 3.5 cm diam.; stamens unequal, filaments, glabrous except at base, longer pair c. 1.8 cm, shorter c. 1 cm, anthers linear, 4 mm, included; ovary presumably bilocular; stigma bi-globose. Capsule and seeds unknown.

Distribution and habitat.

PARAGUAY. Only known from the type collection which was found in “praderas,” presumably some kind of cerrado grassland in eastern Paraguay. Figure 2 .

Conservation status.

Field notes give no data about the frequency of this species and in the absence of other collections or any information about threats to its habitat, it can only be classified as Data Deficient (DD) within IUCN guidelines. It would be treated as a "black star" species within the classification of Hawthorne and Marshall (2016), but again this must be considered a provisional classification as no systematic search has been made for the species at the type locality or in other suitable habitats, although it must be presumed to be rare.

Etymology.

The epithet dolichopoda meaning “long-stalked” refers to the exceptionally long secondary peduncles of the inflorescence.

Notes.

This species has a strong superficial resemblance to I. attenuata , described above. Both species have somewhat similar oblong, shortly petiolate leaves and ovate sepals with a distinct truncate base and acuminate apex. The persistent bracteoles are also somewhat similar. Ipomoea dolichopoda , however, can be distinguished at first glance by the long white hairs which are scattered over all vegetative parts including the pedicels and sepals. It is also distinct in the very short primary peduncles combined with the very long secondary peduncles, a combination that in our experience is unique in Ipomoea . The glabrous exterior of the corolla is another distinguishing feature which raises doubts about the relationship of the two species and serves to distinguish it from I. delphinioides Choisy, with which it has been identified.

Figures

Figure 2. Map of Eastern Brazil and Paraguay showing distribution of Ipomoea attenuata (▲), I. dasycarpa (■) and I. dolichopoda (✖).

Figure 7. Ipomoea dolichopoda. A habit B leaf apex C leaf base, showing peduncle and inflorescence D Outer sepal E inner sepal F corolla opened out to show stamens G ovary and style. Drawn by Rosemary Wise from I. Basualdo 002775.