Ipomoea cairica

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 : 411-412

8. Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet, Hort. Brit. 287. 1826. Convolvulus cairicus L., Syst. Nat., ed. 10. 2:

922. 1759. Lectotype (designated by Bosser & Heine,

2000): Vesling in Alpino, De Plantis Aegypti, t.74.

1640.

Perennial, climbing, herbs, with enlarged storage roots. Stems twining or prostrate, completely glabrous or shortly pubescent at the nodes, up to 2 cm long, sometimes shallowly muricate. Leaves palmately compound, orbicular, ovate or elliptic in outline, 5–7 lobes, narrowly elliptic, elliptic or ovate, apex acuminate, base attenuate, outer lobes often bifid, glabrous, 3–10 cm, apex acute or obtuse, mucronulate or attenuate with pseudo-stipules, 5–7 palmately compound, glabrous, at the insertion of the petiole; petiole 2–6 cm long, terete, glabrous. Inflorescences in lax dichotomous cymes: peduncle 5–8 mm long, ramified; bracteoles 1.5 mm long, caducous. Flowers many: pedicel up to 3 cm long, thickening towards the apex. Sepals subequal, ovate, 4–6.5 × 2.5–3 mm, glabrous, sometimes verruculose; the outer ones slightly shorter, obtuse to acute and mucronulate at the apex, membranous and pale along the margins. Corolla funnel-shaped, (3–) 4–6.5 × 4–5 cm, pinkish-mauve, purple, to entirely white, with a purple center, glabrous. Stamens included; filaments unequal, dilated and pubescent at the base; anthers 2.5 mm long, sagittate at the base, pollen pantoporate, spinulose. Ovary 2-locular; style included, c. 18 mm, glabrous. Fruits subglobose, glabrous, 1–1.2 cm in diameter; seeds subglobose or ovoid, 4.2–6 mm long, blackish, densely short-tomentose with long silky hairs along the edges.

Flowering & fruiting: According to the flora of West Tropical Africa, it flowers and fruits all year round ( Heine,1963).

Habitat: Grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome; secondary forest and savannah ( POWO, 2024). They can grow up to 350 m above sea-level.

Distribution: Native in Tropical and South Africa, West Indian Ocean, Arabian Peninsula to Temperate East Asia. Introduced in Algeria and a greater part of Tropical South America. In Ghana: Greater Accra region (Legon, Medea), Central (Elmina), Eastern (Suhum) and Northern regions (Bole) ( Fig. 2).

Specimens examined: GHANA, Greater Accra region, Legon hill, 15.01.1956, C .D. Adams , 3700 (GC); Central region: Elmina-Emisano, 01.12.1929, L. O . Deakun 53 ( GC); Eastern region , Suhum, 01.12.1951, J. K . Morton 6333 (GC); Northern region, Bole Banbow, Bole, 01.11.1958, T. M . Hams s.n. ( GC) .

Conservation status: Least Concern ( Allen, 2017).

Uses: Most parts of Ipomoea cairica have been recorded to be edible; the leaves are eaten when still young, and roots are cooked before consumption. Leaves of the species are also used for treating skin disorders, and seeds are used as laxatives, purgatives and enemas. It is also used medicinally by Zulu people, who make a mixture using crushed leaves and drink it for healing body rashes and fever ( Burkill, 1985).