Ipomoea intrapilosa Rose, Gard. & Forest

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 : 416-417

16. Ipomoea intrapilosa Rose, Gard. & Forest 7: 367 (1894). Lectotype (designated by McPherson, 1981: 532): MEXICO, Jalisco, s.d., E. Palmer 703 (US [ US 00111405!]; isolecto BM [ BM000953192 ], GH [00054521], K [ K000612776 ], MEXU [ MEXU00025494 ]).

Perennial shrubs or trees, 3–10 m high. Stems light coloured, up to 50 cm in diameter. Leaf blade green, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 7–14 × 3–5.5 cm, rounded, acuminate, entire, glabrous or sparsely pubescent on the lower surface near the base of the midrib, 10–17 lateral veins on each side of the midrib, sometimes bi-glandular at the base of the midrib; petiole pale green, 3–9 cm long, glabrous. Inflorescences pedunculate, peduncle 0.4–2 cm long, glabrous; bracteoles ovate to oblong, 3–6 × 1–2.5 mm, glabrous on both surfaces and pubescent within, caducous. Flower: pedicel 1.8–5 cm long, glabrous. Calyx ovate, 13–19 × 7–13 mm, coriaceous, obtuse or obtusemucronate and acute at the apex, abaxial surface glabrous and adaxial surface with soft, straight appressed hairs. Corolla white or yellowish white, 5–8 × 5–7 cm, the tube and the interplical regions greenish yellow, funnel, glabrous or sparsely pubescent along the margins of the inter apical regions. Stamens included; filaments 3–4 cm long; anthers 8–10.5 mm long, basal hairs up to 2.5 mm long. Ovary 2-locular, 4-ovuled; style 3.5–4 cm long; stigmas 2, globose to slightly elongate, 1 mm long. Fruits opening by 4-valved, 2–2.5 cm long; seeds pilose, with long hairs on the margins, 10–15 mm long.

Vernacular names: Cazahuate, cazahuate blanco or palo blanco (Spanish).

Flowering & fruiting: Flowers and fruits between October and April.

Habitat: Dry shrublands in central Mexico, oak forests and tropical deciduous woodlands; altitude from 900–2200 m.

Distribution: Native to Mexico, introduced, cultivated or escaped from cultivation elsewhere. In Ghana: Eastern region, Greater Accra region. New record for Ghana.

Specimens examined: GHANA, Greater Accra region, Botany Department, University College, Achimota , 21.11.1959, G . K . Akpabla 490 ( GC); Eastern region, Aburi Botanical Garden , 25.05.1976, Hall, Lock & Abbiw 45849 ( GC) .

Conservation status: IUCN has formally assessed this species as Least Concern ( Salas et al., 2020).

Uses: Ornamental and medicinal. ( Osuna et al., 1996; Bah et al., 2007; Wood et al., 2020).