Ipomoea rubens Choisy, Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève

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 : 422-423

24. Ipomoea rubens Choisy, Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 6: 463 (1833). Lectotype (designated by

Wood et al., 2015: 20): INDIA, Silhet, Wallich

1421 (G [G00227258!]; isolecto K [K000097038],

G [G00134909!, G00134950!, G00134959!,

G00134972!]).

Perennial herbs. Stems rather woody, finely striate when dry, terete, 1–3 mm in diameter, up to 4 m long, densely short-pilose with soft greyish hairs. Leaves entire or shallowly 3-lobed, broadly ovate to circular, 5–15 × 4–12 cm, cordate with rounded auricles at the base, apex acuminate and mucronate, upper surface pubescent to densely villose, lower surface less densely pubescent to glabrous, with greyish hairs; 7–9 pairs of secondary veins; petiole slender 3–7 cm long, pilose like the stems. Inflorescences compact, subumbelliform, peduncle 2–15 cm long, cylindrical, pilose as the stems; bracteoles triangular, 3–7 mm long, pubescent, caducous. Flower: pedicel pilose, 5–17 mm long. Sepals subequal, ovate, apex obtuse or minutely mucronate, 6–8(–11) × 3–6(–10) mm, pilose at the apex but not ciliate, persistent in fruit; outer sepals ovate-deltoid, accrescent, to 16 mm in fruit, apex acute; inner sepals apex obtuse, margin distinctly hyaline. Corolla funnel-shaped, 4–5 cm long, purple or mauve with dark purple centre; limb 4–5 cm in diameter, sparsely pilose; midpetaline bands with silky long trichomes. Stamens included; filaments unequal, the longer ones 8–9 mm long, shorter ones c. 3 mm long, widened and pubescent at the base; anthers oblong, c. 2 mm long, base sagittate. Ovary glabrous, 2-locular, 4-ovuled; style filiform, 15–17 mm long; stigmas 2-globose. Fruits globose, 12–13 mm in diam., opening by 4 valves, glabrous; seeds ovoid, 6–9 mm, densely pilose, with white or yellowish hairs c. 2.5 mm long.

Vernacular names: Otjiherero, otjinatjoruhona ( Namibia) ( GonÇalves, 1987).

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Habitat: Ipomoea rubens occurs in humid, subhumid, and dry freshwater wetlands ( Demissew, 2006). They can grow up to elevations of 300 m.

Distribution: Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. In Ghana: Brong Ahafo, Greater Accra, Northern, Volta and Central regions ( Fig. 8).

Specimens examined: GHANA, Northern Region, White Volta at Daboya Tamale , 16.01.1996, A. A . Ente & C. W . Agyakwa VBS 419 ( GC) ; Greater Accra region, Accra plains , little lake Volta, 6 o 09’48’’N, 0 o 03’54’’E, alt. 50 m, 12.11.1994, C. C. H . Jongkind, D. Abbiw & C. M . Markwei 1855 ( GC); Brong Ahafo region, Yeji , 11.04.1964, J. B . Hall 1299 ( GC); Ibid., 13.08.1963, B. K . Adom Boafo & M . Ansa-Emmim VBS 191 ( GC); Ibid., 19.05.1965, A. A . Ente & C. W . Agyakwa VBS 2115 ( GC) .

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

Uses: The leaves, shoots, and leafy stems are eaten by primates such as chimpanzees ( Calabuig, 2014).