Ipomoea gracilis R. Brown (Convolvulaceae) and its allies

Morphological and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) data were analyzed to determine the phylogenetic affinities of I. gracilis and species previously considered allied with that species on the basis of morphology. Both data sets indicate that the names I. gracilis and I. littoralis represent not only distinct species, but that they should be placed in different sections of the genus: I. gracilis in section Erpipomoea or a distinct related section, and I. littoralis in section Batatas. The data further indicate that the pantropical littoral species I. pes-caprae and I. violacea may be closely allied with different species endemic to Australia.