340. Ipomoea amnicola Morong in Morong & Britton, Ann. New York Acad. Sc. 7: 170. 1892. (Morong and Britton 1892: 170)

Type.

PARAGUAY. Banks of the Pilcomayo, T. Morong 974 (lectotype NY00319140, designated here, isolectotypes MO, NY, R).

Description.

Somewhat succulent twining or trailing perennial, completely glabrous in all parts. Leaves petiolate, 2-8(-12) × 2-8-(10) cm, ovate, sometimes broadly so, usually constricted in the middle to form a tapering acuminate apical portion, base cordate with rounded auricles, abaxially slightly glaucous; petioles 1-10 cm. Inflorescence of lax to rather dense, many-flowered, pedunculate, simple or compound cymes; peduncles 1-5 cm; bracteoles 1-3 mm, lanceolate to ovate, caducous; secondary peduncles 5-20 mm; pedicels 0.8-2.5 cm; sepals slightly unequal, coriaceous, glabrous, outer 4-6 × 3-4 mm long, ovate-elliptic, convex, obtuse and shortly mucronate, inner 5-7 × 4-5 mm long, broadly oblong-elliptic to obovate, rounded, with broad scarious margins; corolla 2-5.5 cm long, pale lilac to pink with dark centre, glabrous, funnel-shaped, the limb 2.5-3.5 cm diam., unlobed. Capsules 7-12 × 6 mm, conical, shortly rostrate, glabrous; seeds 5-7 × 2.5-4 mm, reddish brown, the surface minutely tomentellous, the angles densely pilose.

We recognise two subspecies, which intergrade in the region around the Pantanal and perhaps elsewhere.