Ipomoea argentaurata Hallier f., Bot. Jahrb. Syst.

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 : 407-408

4. Ipomoea argentaurata Hallier f., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 18(1-2): 132. 1893. Lectotype (designated here): NIGERIA, Barter 1031 (lectotype

K000097041 , isolectotype B †?).

Perennial herbs, or subshrub. Stems prostrate or ascending from a woody base, densely whitishtomentose with hispid yellow hairs. Leaves simple, oblong, ovate to lanceolate, 2–7 × 0.5–2.5 cm, base rounded, subcordate or cordate, apex attenuate, mucronate; densely strigose on the upper surface and deep green, silvery-silky below; petioles 0.5– 1.6 cm. Inflorescences bracteate, heads of flowers large, densely strigose, with long golden-yellow hairs; bracteoles 10–28 × 4–14 mm long, hairy like the calyx. Sepals linear-lanceolate or almost linear, acuminate, silky white on the back, with yellow strigose margins. Corolla large, funnel-shaped, whitish turning light purplish with darker centre, c. 3 cm long, midpetaline bands strigose outside. Fruits 4-valved, glabrous; seeds covered with a dense dark brown pubescence.

Vernacular names: ukpali, fárín gámó, (Dagani, Dyokogye, Hausa, Ghana); good luck (English) ( Burkill, 1985).

Flowering & fruiting: Begins flowering and fruiting in June but mostly from August to December ( Heine, 1963).

Habitat: A climber, growing primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome; in savanna habitat ( Heine, 1963). They can grow up to elevations of 500 m.

Distribution: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal (Hassler 2022, POWO,

2024). In Ghana: Northern, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Upper East and Upper West regions ( Fig. 5 ) .

Specimens examined: GHANA. Northern Region, Damango, a yam farm near the Mole game reserve, Savannah grasslands, 06.12.1965, A. A .

Enti 35162 (GC); Kwahu-Tafo, Grassland on flat rocks at 1500’, 19.08.1963, J . B . Hall 0098 (GC);

Yendi, 28.12.1950, C.D. Adams & G. K. Akpabla 4051

(GC); Tamale, Tamale Girls School compound,

01.10.1954, E. G. Asare 5934 ( GC); Eastern region, Kwahu-Abowom , on rocks by a pool , 12.06.1970,

Hall & Agyakwa 39684 (GC).

Conservation status: Not evaluated.

Uses: The whole plant is used as genital stimulant or depressant; a decoction of aerial parts is drunk while kola nuts are eaten, in Ivory Coast, in the belief that it promotes spermatogenesis; other uses are mainly superstitious, as medicine for witchcraft, worn as an amulet, for example; clothing is fumigated with it, not as a scent, but as a charm for the same purpose, or for luck; in Bénin, a leaf decoction together with leaves of Ficus vallischoudae Delile , is drunk to treat hyperthermia and a decoction of the leafy twigs is taken to treat kwashiorkor ( Burkill, 1985).

Figures

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