Ipomoea aitonii Lindl.

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 : 404

1. Ipomoea aitonii Lindl. , Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 21: t. 1794. 1835. Type: Illustration in Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 21: t. 1794. 1835.

Perennial herbs. Stems prostrate or twining, strong-stemmed, densely covered with white and yellow spreading hairs. Leaves simple, 3-lobed, rarely entire, orbicular in outline, bristly pubescent above, white hairy below, apex acute or acuminate, base cordate, 4.5–13 × 4.5–13 cm; petiole hairy, 4–7 cm. Inflorescences dense cymes, 1-many-flowered; peduncle 1.5–7 (–15) cm long; bracteoles c. 7 × c. 2 mm. Sepals lanceolate, sticky glandular, with spreading hairs, 12–22 × 25–30 mm. Corolla pink or mauve, 1.2–1.7 (–2) cm long, with dark purple centre, pubescent on the upper portion of the midpetaline bands. Fruits ovoid, sparsely pubescent, 8 mm high; seeds ovoid, pubescent (rarely quite glabrous), black, white tomentose, 4–5 mm long.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowers and Fruits from November to February (H6eine, 1963).

Habitat: Riverine forest, thickets, clearing in bushland, becoming a weed of cultivated ground. This species can grow up to 600 m above sea-level.

Distribution: The native range of I. aitonii is throughout tropical Africa, the South Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent. In Ghana:

Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Ashanti region and Upper West regions ( Fig. 1 ).

Specimens examined: GHANA, Eastern region: Abetifi, 20.12.1939, Scholes 110 ( GC); Kyibi, Apapam, 16.12.1953, J . K . Morton 8155 ( GC); Ashanti region: Ashanti Akyim, Agogo , 28.12.1927, F . R . Irvine 583 ( GC) ; Brong Ahafo region: Sunyani , 1000ft, 18.12.1954, C . D. Adams 2754 ( GC); Northern region: Talense south, near Burufo , 20.12.1950, C .D. Adams 4451 (GC).

Conservation status: Not evaluated.

Uses: The seed is used in medicine as a laxative; the leaf is used as fodder in agri-horticulture ( Burkill, 1985).

Figures

Fig. 1. DiStribution reCordS of I. verbascoidea ChoiSY, I. pyrophila A. Chev. and I. aitonii Lindl.in Ghana.