Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Cat. Pl. Cub.

B. D., Williams, R. C., Francisco, B., Mewded, C. P., Oppong, C. B., Ayensu, C. W., Masinde, D. B., Chukwuma, A. G., Deresa, D. D., Yeboah, F., Rasaminirina, U. P., Igho-Osagie, M. J., Korir, K. B., Antwi-Boasiako, R. A., Mfodwo, A. S. M., Mutegeki, P., Atta-Adjei, P. K., Akomatey, S., Kumordzie, R., Borosova, C., Tang, A., Asase, G., Ameka & Simões, A. R. G., 2024, Advancing knowledge of West African morning glories: a taxonomic account of Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) from Ghana, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 397-429 : 415

14. Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Cat. Pl. Cub. 203. 1866. Convolvulus imperati Vahl, Symb.

Bot. 1: 17. 1790. Type: Imperato, Hist. Nat., éd. 2:

671. 1672.

Perennial, fleshy, stoloniferous, herbs. Stems prostrate, sometimes twining, terete, glabrous, rooting at the nodes. Leaves simple, very variable in shape and size, particularly on the same plant, linear, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic-oblong or ovate, sometimes shallowly 3–5-lobed, 1.5–14 × 1.5–3.5(–6.5) cm, apex bilobed, emarginate, obtuse to acute or mucronate, base rounded to truncate or cordate, margins entire to undulate; petioles 0.5–4.5 (–5) cm, glabrous or less often puberulent at the apex. Inflorescences: peduncle 0.6–1.9 cm; bracteoles very narrowly elliptic-oblong to linear or subulate, 2–4 mm long. Flower: pedicel 2.1–4.3 cm; slightly club-shaped. Sepals unequal, oblong, obtuse to shortly cuspidate at the apex, subcoriaceous; outer ones shorter, 8–9 mm long; inner ones longer, 10–11 mm long. Corolla funnel-shaped, 3.9–5 cm long, white, yellowish on the inside, with a dark purple center, glabrous. Stamens unequal; longer filaments 8–10 mm, shorter filaments 5–6 (–7) mm, puberulent at the base; anthers pale yellow, 3–4 mm long. Ovary ovoid, 2-locular, 2.2–2.5 mm high, glabrous; style filiform, 12–13 mm long. Fruits ellipsoid to subglobose, dehiscing by 4 valves, glabrous; seeds ovoid-trigonous, 4–5 mm long, tomentose with greyish silky hairs.

Vernacular names: beach morning-glory (English) ( CABI, 2019).

Flowering & fruiting: Flowers and fruits between May to August ( GBIF, 2022).

Habitat: Ipomoea imperati grows on coastal flats, beaches, windward and leeward slopes of dunes, up to 100 m (CABI, 2021).

Distribution: Tropical and subtropical coasts ( POWO, 2024). In Ghana: Greater Accra and Western regions.

Specimens examined: GHANA, Greater Accra region, Accra , 02.05.1966, T . W . Porown 399 ( GC); Medea , 21.05.1953, D. W . Woodall 15588 ( GC) ;

Labadi, 16.10.1963, J. K. Botokro 47356 ( GC); Accra

Sea Coast, 13.10.1899, T. W. Brown 399 ( GC); Near beach, West of Accra , 5 o 30’06 o N, 0 o 20’42’’W, alt. 5

m, 26.11.1994, C. C. H . Jongkind, D. K . Abbiw & C.M.

Markwei 1898 (GC).

Conservation status: Not evaluated.

Uses: The plant is used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, swelling and wounds, as well as to treat pains after childbirth and for stomach problems (De Paula–Zurrón et al., 2010).