Ipomoea laeta A. Gray

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

253. Ipomoea laeta A. Gray , Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 22: 439. 1887. (Gray 1887: 439)

Type.

MEXICO. Jalisco, Río Blanco, E. Palmer 341 (holotype GH00054508, isotypes BM, NY, MO, NDG, P, US, YU).

Description.

Climbing perennial, stems, leaves and other vegetative parts pubescent. Leaves petiolate, 2.5-4.5 × 3-6 cm, palmately lobed to near the base, lobes broadly to narrowly ovate-elliptic, acuminate to an acute apex, narrowed at base, leaf base cordate, abaxially whitish, sometimes sericeous; petioles 2-3.5 cm. Inflorescence of solitary axillary flowers; peduncles 5-8 cm; bracteoles 12-14 mm, oblong-lanceolate, finely apiculate, deciduous; pedicels 4-7 mm, densely pilose; sepals unequal, outer 17-20 × 7-10 mm, broadly ovate with rounded to truncate base, apiculate, pilose, inner 15-16 mm, obtuse to retuse, pilose only along midrib, margins broad, scarious; corolla 10-12 cm long, funnel-shaped, pink, pilose, limb entire, c. 9 cm diam.; stigma biglobose. Capsules and seeds not seen.

Illustration.

Figure 131 .

Distribution.

Endemic to north western Mexico, growing in Quercus and Pinus woodland between 1000 and 1700 m.

MEXICO. Chihuahua: Río Mayo, Sierra Charuco, H.S. Gentry 1788 (F, S). Coahuila: East of 5 de Mayo, Viesca, G.B. Hinton et al. 28506 (GBH). Jalisco: Guadalajara, C.G. Pringle 4456 (BM, E, F, MO, P, S); Lago de Chapala, O.T. Solbrig & R. Ornduff 4442 (NY, UC); Zapotitan de Hidalgo, D.P. Gregory & G. Eiten 214 (MO, P); Zapopan, La Primavera, A. Bourg 139 (IEB); Ixtlahuacan del Rio, Y. Hernandez Magaña et al. 9441 (MEXU); La Huerta, Rancho Cuixmala, E. J Lott 2867 (UCR). Nayarit: Xalisco, G. Flores et al. 4025 (MO, n.v.); Cerro de San Juan, Tepic, Y. Mexia 684 (BM). Sinaloa: Com. La Guásima, Concordia, M. Ruiz et al. 2009-278 (ARIZ). Sonora: fide Felger et al. (2012).

Notes.

This species is usually easily recognised by its large carolla and the palmately-lobed discolorous leaves. However, as with many species in the Pharbitis Clade, the leaves may be entire or lobed. Gentry 1788 and Ruiz et al. 2009-278 differ from other specimens in having entire, strongly abaxially sericeous leaves.

Placement of this species in the Pharbitis Clade is provisional.

Figures

Figure 131. Ipomoea laeta. A habit B variation in leaf shape C abaxial leaf surface D outer sepal, abaxial surface (left), adaxial surface (right) E middle sepal F inner sepal G corolla open out to show stamens H ovary and style. Drawn by Rosemary Wise A, B from Pringle 10620; C-H from Solbrig & Orduff 4442.