Ipomoea obscura

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 : 419-420

20. Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl., Bot. Reg. 3: t. 239. 1817. Lectoype (designated by Meeuse,

1958: 746): Iconotype, Dillenius in Hort. Eltham .:

tab. 83, fig. 95. 1732.

Perennial herbs. Stems prostrate to twining, filiform, cylindrical, nearly woody at base, pilose or glabrescent. Leaves entire or slightly undulate, ovate, rarely linear-oblong, 2.5–8.5 × 0.4–7.5 cm, cordate with rounded auricles at the base, acuminate or apiculate and mucronate at the apex, margins often ciliate, membranous, pubescent or glabrescent on both surfaces; petiole slender, pubescent or glabrescent, 1–11 cm long. Inflorescences 1–4 (–5.5) cm long; peduncle 1–8 cm long, slender, glabrous, pubescent or thinly pilose; bracteoles triangular, acute, 1–2 mm long. Flower: pedicel 1–2 cm long, at first erect but in fruit relaxed and thickened towards the apex, sometimes minutely verrucose, glabrous or less commonly, pubescent or pilose. Sepals subequal, ovate, ovate-orbicular, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, apex acute or apiculate, 4–8 mm long, 1.7–4 mm long, often wrinkled or muricate, margin scarious, glabrous or pilose with long white trichomes, in fruit all somewhat accrescent, ultimately often spreading or reflexed, two outer sepals shorter, ovate, apex acute to shortly acuminate or mucronate, inner sepals ovate-elliptic, apex obtuse, occasionally mucronate. Corolla funnel-shaped, 1.5–2.5 cm long, yellow, orange, cream or white, with or without a dark purple centre, often weakly lobed, 3–4 cm in diameter, midpetaline bands sparsely pubescent at the apex. Stamens included; filaments unequal, two longer, three shorter, widened and pubescent at the base; anthers ovoid, base sagittate, 2–3 mm long. Ovary elongated to rounded, distinctly prolonged at apex, 2.8–5 mm long, glabrous, 2-locular, 4-ovuled; style filiform, 7–8 mm long, glabrous; stigmas 2-globose. Fruits globoseovoid, 7–12 × 5–10 mm, glabrous, crowned by persistent style base; seeds ovoid, black, appressed pubescent, 4–5.5 mm long.

Vernacular names: ododo oko, ododo owuro ( Nigeria: Yoruba); Ògbànanì ( Nigeria: Igbo) ( Burkill, 1985).

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

Habitat: In forests, shrub lands, and rocky areas, e.g., inland cliffs or mountain peaks at 500–2,200 m altitude ( Demissew, 2006; Shimpale et al., 2012).

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

Specimens examined: GHANA, Greater Accra region, between Achimota and Little Legon , 14.10.1955, C . D. Adams 3324 ( GC); Legon village , 01.03.1931, F. R . Irvine 1598 ( GC); Ayikuma to Shai Hills Road , 04.12.1952, J. K . Morton 8069 ( GC); on top of Shai Hills, 8.01.1953, J. K . Morton 8274 (GC); Upper West region, Wa South , 25.05.1950, C .D. Adams 794 (GC).

Conservation status: IUCN has formally assessed this species as Least Concern ( Allen, 2017).

Uses: The leaves are eaten as food ( Burkill, 1985); it is also a widely cultivated ornamental ( Allen, 2017).