Ipomoea delpierrei DeWild., Bull. Jard. Bot. État Bruxelles

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 : 412-413

10. Ipomoea delpierrei DeWild., Bull. Jard. Bot. État Bruxelles 3: 261. 1911. Type: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, Gumban (Uele), 1904, Delpierre s.n. (holo BR [ BR0000008884404 !]).

Herbs. Stems twining, striate, hirsute with long yellowish hairs. Leaves simple, subtriangular, ovate or cordate, 7.9–9.6 × 6.6–7 cm, base cordate, apex acute to acuminate, lateral nerves 13–14, margins entire to sinuate, densely long pubescent above and strigose beneath; petioles 3–7.4 cm, densely long pubescent, grooved beneath, hirsute as the stems. Inflorescences capituliform, dense head, 3–7-flowered; peduncles 11.8–13.5 cm, densely yellowish hirsute as the stem, enclosed by the bracteoles; bracteoles 2, foliaceous, ovate, 2–4.5 cm long, cordate at the base. Flower sessile. Sepals unequal, shorter than the bracteoles, glabrous outside, denticulate and long ciliate inside, strigose; the outer sepals elliptic, 14–15 mm long; inner ones narrowly oblong-elliptic, 12–13 mm long. Corolla funnel-shaped, 3.5–5 cm, white with dark purple throat; midpetaline bands strigose on the upper portion. Stamens pubescent throughout the length of the filaments, widened at the base, very unequal in length, longer ones 10– 13.5 mm, shorter ones 2–4 mm; anther 3–4 mm, sagittate at the base, rounded at the apex. Ovary ovoid, c. 1.5 mm long, glabrous; style filiform, 15– 19 mm. Fruits globose, c. 7 mm in diam., glabrous, 3–4-seeded; seeds trigonous, ovoid or globose, 3–4 mm, dark brown, tomentose.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowers and fruits between December to February.

Habitat: The species grows in woodlands and thickets (Verdcourt, 1963). They can grow up to 350 m above sea level.

Distribution: Native to Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Ivory Coast, and Democratic Republic of Congo ( POWO, 2024). In Ghana: Brong Ahafo region ( Fig. 5 ). New record for Ghana.

Specimens examined: GHANA, Brong Ahafo region, Injina road, Berekum , 12.12.1954, J. K . Morton A1035 ( GC) .

Conservation status: Not evaluated.

Figures

Fig. 5. DiStribution reCordS of I. heterotricha Didr.,I. argentaurata Hallier, I. delpierrei DeWild. and I. involucrata P.Beauv.in Ghana.