Ipomoea violacea

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 : 425

28. Ipomoea violacea L., Sp. Pl. 1: 161. 1753. Lectotype (designated by Manitz, 1977: 269): Icon in Plumier , Codex Boerhaavianus, t. sub n. 851.

1733.

Perennial, glabrous, herbs. Stems woody at the base, twining or prostrate, often longitudinally wrinkled, but otherwise smooth. Leaves simple, cordate, circular or ovate, 5–16 × 5–14 cm, apex acuminate, mucronate, rounded or rarely angular, base cordate, glabrous; petiole glabrous, 3.2–11 cm. Inflorescences: peduncle 2.5–4.5 (–7) cm. Sepals subcircular, equal or outer two shorter, 1.5–2.5 cm, margins hyaline, coriaceous, apex obtuse or emarginate, mucronulate. Flower opens in night: pedicel 1.5–5 cm, thickened in fruit. Corolla salver-shaped or very narrowly funnel-shaped, white or pale greenish yellow, with green midpetaline bands, 9–12 cm long, glabrous. Staminal filaments inserted near the base of the corolla tube. Ovary glabrous; stigma 2-globose. Fruits ovoid to globose, opening by 4-valves, glabrous, pale brown, 2–2.5 cm; seeds sub-trigonous, 1–1.2 cm long, black, densely short tomentose, edges with c. 3 mm long sericeous hairs.

Vernacular names: beach moonflower, sea moonflower (English) ( Michaels, 2022).

Flowering & fruiting: Flowers and Fruits from March to May ( Heine, 1963).

Habitat: Coastal bushland; beaches, seaside thickets, edges of brackish rivers and lagoons; near sea-level to 100 m ( Heine, 1963).

Distribution: Native to tropical and subtropical coasts. In Ghana: Western region ( Fig. 7 ).

Specimens examined: GHANA, Western region, Axim , strand vegetation near beach, 01.03.1934 ,

F.R. Irvine 2565 (GC); Ibid., 01.04.1965, J.K. Morton

A2092 ( GC) ; Ibid., 19.05.1956, J.K. Morton 2092

(GC); Shama, 15.05.1965, D. Hall 2982 ( GC) .

Conservation status: Not evaluated.

Uses: The seed contains small quantities of the hallucinogen LSD, this has been used medicinally in the treatment of various mental disorders; the leaves and the tuber serve as food (Alencer et al., 2021; Michaels, 2022).

Figures

Fig. 7. DiStribution reCordS of I. violacea L., I. indica (Burm.) Merr., I. nil (L.) Roth,I. batatas (L.) Lam.and I. triloba L.in Ghana.