Ipomoea pes-caprae

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 : 420-421

21. Ipomoea pes-caprae ( L.) R. Br. in J. H. Tuckey, Narr. Exped. Zaire: 477. 1818. Convolvulus pescaprae L., Sp. Pl. 159. 1753. Lectotype (designated by St. John , 1957: 65): Rheede, Hortus Ind. Malab.

11: t. 57.

Perennial herbs, woody at the base, glabrous, containing an abundant white sap. Stems stoloniferous, prostrate, fistulose, often purplish, glabrous to slightly puberulent. Leaves erect, slightly succulent, suborbicular to squareshaped, 3–10.5 × 3–12 cm, apex emarginate and mucronate or truncate, sometimes lobed, base cuneate to rounded or cordate, glabrous or very sparsely puberulent on both sides, margins entire; petiole 2–17 cm long, purplish, glabrous. Inflorescences: peduncle angular or flattened, 3–16 cm long, glabrous; bracteoles caducous, elliptic-ovate to narrowly elliptic-ovate, 3–3.5 mm. Flower: pedicel 1.2–4.5 cm long, glabrous. Sepals unequal, glabrous, the outer ones ovate to slightly elliptic, mucronate, 6–10 mm long, distinctively 3–5-nerved, the inner ones larger, 8–15 mm long. Corolla funnel-shaped, pink or red purple with darker purple centre, 3–6 cm long, glabrous. Stamens unequal; filaments 5–9 mm long, widened and pilose at the base; anthers 4–4.5 mm long, sagittate at the base. Ovary globose to ovoid, 2–2.5 mm, 2-locular, glabrous; style 12–20 mm; stigmas 2, globose. Fruits globose, 12–18 mm long, 4-seeded or more, opening by 4 valves, glabrous; seeds black, trigonous-globose, 6–10 mm long, densely brownish tomentose.

Vernacular names: bababarakora ( Senegal: Madingue), npiiti ( Nigeria: Yoruba), batatilla ( Dominican Republic), bay hops, bay winders ( Bahamas), bejuco de playa ( Puerto Rico), boniato de playa ( Cuba), patate lan mer ( Dominican Republic), patate marron ( Haiti), Goat’s foot Convolvulus (English) , bejuco de playa (Spanish), pied de chèvre (French) ( Prota, 2024).

Flowering & fruiting: Flowers and Fruits between December to March ( Heine, 1963).

Habitat: Ipomoea pes-caprae is a pioneer coloniser of sand-dunes occurring throughout the seaboard of tropical regions ( Prota, 2024). They can grow up to 100 m above sea level.

Distribution: Tropical and subtropical coasts ( POWO, 2024). In Ghana: Greater Accra and Western regions.

Specimens examined (selected): GHANA, Greater Accra region, Near Labadi Lagoon, Shrub vegetation, 01.01.1933, F. R . Irvine 1962 ( GC); Labadi beach, 23.01.1954, W . Woodall 16640 ( GC); Western region, Beach near Axim, Shrub vegetation, 01.03.1934, F. R . Irvine 2565 ( GC) .

Conservation status: IUCN has formally assessed this species as Least Concern (Bárrios & Copeland, 2021).

Uses: The leaves are used to treat skin diseases ( Burkill, 1985). The leaves are eaten as vegetables in Zanzibar, and also used for fodder/forage for pigs and cows in China; pulped leaves are rubbed on fishing nets in Malawi as a lure to entice the fish to enter. Extract from the stems used for strong anti-tumour action; leaves used as anodynal in rheumatism and emollient on ulcerous and other sores, diuretic and laxative (Brown & Frank, 2023).