Ipomoea campanulata

Nomenclature

Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Ipomoea campanulata L., Sp. Pl. 160. 1753.

Synonyms:

Ipomoea soluta Kerr, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 18. 1941

Ipomoea soluta var. alba C. Y. Wu, Yunnan Redai Yaredai Zhiwu Quxi Yanjiu Baogao (Rept. Stud. Pl. Trop. Subtrop. Yunnan) 1: 122. 1965.

I. campanulata var. illustris C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. In. 4: 211. 1883.

I. illustris (C.B.Clarke) Prain, Bengal Pl. 2: 735. 1903.

Description

Habit:

Subshrubs, scandent. Stems gray, terete, verruculose-lenticellate.

Leaves:

Petiole 6.5–9 cm, densely puberulous; leaf blade ovate-cordate, 16–17 × 13–15 cm, abaxial surface pubescent, adaxial surface nearly glabrous, base cordate, margin entire; lateral veins ca. 14 pairs.

Inflorescences:

Inflorescences several flowered; peduncle stout, shorter than petiole, densely puberulous; bracts early deciduous. Pedicel stout, 7–13 mm, densely pubescent.

Flowers:

Inflorescences several flowered; peduncle stout, shorter than petiole, densely puberulous; bracts early deciduous. Pedicel stout, 7–13 mm, densely pubescent.

Fruits:

Capsule ovoid, ca 15 mm long, 4-valved, brown, glabrous.

Seeds:

Seeds ca 8–9 mm, black, long silky-hairy on margins.

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:

Thailand.— NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Nan, Lamphun, Lampang; NORTH-EASTERN: Phetchabun, Khon Kaen; EASTERN: Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi; CENTRAL: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Bangkok; PENINSULAR: Ranong.

Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, China (Yunnan), Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, New Guinea.

Ecology:

China: Clearings
and borders in primary or secondary deciduous or evergreen forests, disturbed
vegetation, bamboo thickets, swamps; 50–1200 m elevation.

Thailand: Sunny areas and clearings in scrub
jungle, secondary vegetation, roadside grassy places, swamps with standing
water, or in evergreen or deciduous forest, bamboo thickets on granite bedrock,
limestone, clay soil, or in swampy areas; altitude: c. 50–1200 m.

Phenology:

Flw. Jan, Feb, Apr, Dec; Frt. Nov.

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.

Other information

Common names and uses:

bai da hua qian jin teng (Chinese); phak bung rua, thao pan en, phak uen (Thai).

General comments:

The taxonomy and nomenclature for this species has been greatly misunderstood and the name has been variously misapplied or reduced to synonymy. Literature relevant to the evolving taxonomic concepts over time and nomenclatural background includes C. B. Clarke (in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 4: 211. 1885), Prain (Bengal Plts. 2: 735. 1903), Ooststroom (Blumea 3: 566. 1940; Fl. Males. Ser. I, 4: 485. 1953), Gunn (Brittonia 24: 169–176. 1972), Van Steenis (Fl. Males. Ser. I, emend. 9: 558. 1982), and Austin et al. (Brittonia 30: 195–198. 1978).

Chinese floras recognize an endemic white-flowered variety (under I. soluta). This endemic variety is known only from the type specimen; it needs careful comparison with material of bona fide I. campanulata from outside China to establish its identity. Given that the typical corolla color for I. campanulata is white on the limb and purplish inside the tube, the recognition of a variety based on corolla color seems dubious.