Ipomoea aculeata

Nomenclature

Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Ipomoea aculeata Blume, Bijdr. 715. 1825.

Synonyms:

Calonyction mollissimum var. glabrior Miquel

I. mollissima (Zoll.) Hallier f. ex Ooststr. var. glabrior (Miquel) Boerl.

I. yomae Kurz

Description

Habit:

Plants perennial, woody, twining, occasionally prostrate, glabrous or pubescent. Stems terete or angular, smooth or with small hooks.

Leaves:

Petiole slender, 3–10 cm; leaf blade ovate to circular, 5–14 × 3–10 cm, pubescent or nearly glabrous, base cordate, margin entire, undulate, or acutely angled, apex long acuminate, mucronulate.

Inflorescences:

Inflorescences 1- to few-flowered; peduncle 4–15 mm. Pedicel 7–15 mm, sometimes angular, thicker distally, clavate in fruit, to 2 cm, recurved.

Flowers:

Inflorescences 1- to few-flowered; peduncle 4–15 mm. Pedicel 7–15 mm, sometimes angular, thicker distally, clavate in fruit, to 2 cm, recurved.

Fruits:

Capsule at first enclosed by sepals, which later reflex, ovoid, ca. 1.5 cm, apiculate, 4-valved.

Seeds:

Seeds 6–8 mm, densely gray-brown woolly.

Author:

Fang R.C. & G. Staples

References:

Fang R.C., G. Staples, et al. 1995. Convolvulaceae in P. Raven & C.Y. Wu (eds.) Flora of China 16: 271–325.

Biogeography, Ecology and Natural History

Distribution Map:

Distribution:

Bangladesh, China (Hainan), Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia

Ecology:

China: Thickets,
forests, roadsides; 0–1200 m.

Thailand: Moist clearings in
forest; altitude: 350–400 m.

Phenology:

Flw. Sep-Nov, frt. Sep-Oct.

Author:

Fang R.C. & G. Staples

References:

Fang R.C., G. Staples, et al. 1995. Convolvulaceae in P. Raven & C.Y. Wu (eds.) Flora of China 16: 271–325.

Staples, G. 2010. Convolvulaceae. Fl. Thailand 10(3): 330–468.

Other information

Common names and uses:

ye hua shu teng (Chinese).

Infraspecific Characters:

Two varieties are distinguished based partly on indumentum and partly on geographic distribution:

Var. aculeata is glabrous or nearly so and is found in Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands).

Var. mollissima is softly pubescent or shortly tomentose and is found in continental Asia, Indonesia (Java, Madura, Lesser Sunda Islands, Timor, Alor), and the Philippines.