258. Ipomoea barbatisepala A. Gray, Syn. Fl. N. Amer., ed. 2, 1: 212. 1886. (Gray 1886: 212)

Type.

USA, Texas, C. Wright 507 (holotype GH00054451, isotypes BM, GH, K, US).

Description.

Slender twining annual herb, stems glabrous. Leaves petiolate, 3-9 × 3-9 cm in outline but usually small, palmately divided into 3 lobes, shallowly cordate to truncate and briefly cuneate onto petiole, the terminal lobe lanceolate acuminate, narrowed at base, the 2 lateral lobes forked or trifurcate, glabrous, both surfaces green. Inflorescence of few-flowered pedunculate cymes, flowers often solitary; peduncles 1.5-5 cm, recurving in fruit; bracteoles 2 mm, linear-lanceolate, scarious with green midrib; pedicels 6-15 mm, lateral flowers often developing tardily; sepals subequal, 9-12(-15) × 2-3 mm, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, densely covered in stiff bristles c. 3 mm long; corolla 1.6-2.3 cm long, the tube white, glabrous, the limb bluish-purple, c. 2 cm diam., unlobed but midpetaline bands terminating in a tooth. Capsules subglobose 9 × 10 mm, glabrous; seeds up to 6.5 × 2.5 mm, appressed pubescent often appearing glabrous, brown.

Variation.

We formally recognise two varieties that were previously treated as distinct species.