Ipomoea aquatica Forssk., Fl.

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 : 405-407

3. Ipomoea aquatica Forssk., Fl. Aegypt. -Arab. 44. 1775. Type : YEMEN, Zabid, 05.04.1763, Forsskål 447 (holotype C [ C10002419 !], isotype BM000930424 !).

Perennial, less often annual, fleshy, stoloniferous, herb. Stems prostrate or floating, fistulose, rooting at the nodes, terete, glabrous or pilose at the nodes, smooth, with longitudinal ridges. Leaves simple, linear, lanceolate, ovate to broadly triangular in outline, 3–13 (–17) × 0.5–9 cm, base cordate, sagittate or hastate, apex acute, acuminate, margin entire, glabrous, or more rarely pilose; petioles 1.5–3.5 cm long, glabrous. Inflorescences few-flowered; peduncle up to 14 cm long, thinner than the petiole, glabrous; bracteoles scale-like, narrowly ovate, 1.5–2 mm long, apex acute. Flower solitary: pedicel 1.5–6.5 cm long, glabrous or puberulent at the base. Sepals subequal; the outer ones ovate, 7–12 mm long, slightly shorter than the inner ones, pale along the margins, glabrous, apex obtuse, often mucronulate; inner sepals ovate-elliptic, c. 8 mm long, apex mucronate. Corolla funnel-shaped with a narrow tube, (2–) 4.5–10 cm long, pink, lilac, pale, dark red, purple with a purple center, or rarely white with dark purple center, glabrous. Stamens unequal, longer ones up to 10 mm, shorter ones 4–5 mm, widened and puberulent at the base; anthers 2 mm long, sagittate. Ovary obpyriform, 2-locular, glabrous; style up to 13 mm long, articulated. Fruits ovoid to globose, 10–14 × 8–12 mm wide, tardily dehiscent or indehiscent; seeds ovoid, densely pubescent.

Vernacular names: water-spinach (English); weng cai, kangkong ( China), liseron d’eau, patate aquatique (French), marol (Somali), bhaji, karmi bhaji, marmi bhaji ( India), swamp cabbage ( Trinidad & Tobago) (Dueñas-López, 2023).

Flowering & fruiting: Flowers and fruits from August to December ( Heine, 1963).

Habitat: A helophyte, growing primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome; in moist, marshy or inundated localities, shallow pools, ditches, rice fields, forming dense masses; also found along roadsides, at elevations from sea level up to 1,000 m.

Distribution: In tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. In Ghana: N orthern, Brong

Ahafo, Central, Upper West, Greater Accra and Volta regions.

Specimens examined (selected): GHANA, Greater Accra Region, Mile 12 Accra-Winneba road, 5° 34’25”N, 0°15’04”W, 10.06.1961, Hall 1873 ( GC) ; Central region, Cape Coast , marshy roadside, 15.12.1964, J. B . Hall 2775( GC) ; Northern Region, Mole Game Reserve 9°29’55”N, 1°59’55”W, 21.11.1994, C. C. H . Jongkind & C. M. J . Nieuwenhuis 1891 ( GC); c. half mile North of Yeji, 8°12’50”N, 0°38’42”W, 13.08.1963, Ansah-Emmim & Adom-Boafo VBS 233 ( GC); Yeji , 8°12’50”N, 0°38’42”W, 11.04.1964, Hall VBS 1277 ( GC) .

Conservation status: Least Concern (Gupta & Sayer, 2018).

Uses: The leaf sap of I. aquatica is used in medicine for treating insanity; the young plants and leaf are eaten as food either cooked or uncooked; whole plant of I. aquatica is used in medicine for general body healing and the flower buds is used for treating skin diseases ( Burkill, 1985; Van Wyk, 2005).