265. Ipomoea retropilosa (Pittier) D.F. Austin, Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 64 (2): 337. 1977 [pub. 1978]. (Austin 1978a: 337)

Exogonium retropilosum Pittier, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 21: 143. 1931. (Pittier 1931: 143). Type. VENEZUELA. Mérida, Timotes, H. Pittier 12698 (holotype VEN12090, isotypes F, G, MO, US).

Ipomoea chenopodiifolia sensu Austin and Huaman (1996) .

Type.

Based on Exogonium retropilosum Pittier

Description.

Trailing or scrambling liana of unknown size, stems woody, glabrous to scabrid-pilose, sometimes postulate. Leaves petiolate, 3-9 × 2- 7 cm, ovate, abruptly narrowed to an acuminate, mucronate apex, base shallowly cordate, both surfaces adpressed pilose with whitish hairs to glabrous; petioles 4-6.5 cm, pubescent. Inflorescence of few-flowered, pedunculate axillary cymes, primary peduncle stout, slightly woody, 1.3-6 cm, roughly pubescent, secondary peduncles 0.3-1 cm; bracteoles 6 × 1 mm, linear, pubescent, caducous; pedicels 15-32 mm, pubescent or glabrous, slightly thickened upwards; sepals subequal, outer 6-8 × 5-7 mm, broadly ovate, acute and shortly mucronate, glabrous to pilose; inner sepals c. 1 mm longer, glabrous or a broad line of hairs along the middle, margins scarious; corolla tubular, ± hypocrateriform, glabrous, the tube 3.5-4.5 cm long, c. 7-8 mm wide, dark, limb 3.5-4.5 cm wide, unlobed, magenta, stamens shortly exserted. Capsules 7 × 8 mm, subglobose, glabrous, rostrate; seeds not seen.

Variation.

We recognise two subspecies: