Species Descriptions

Merremia aegyptia

Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
Author:
Lewis, W. H.
Chromosome number:
28
Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Distribution:

Found in Mexico, Middle America, South America, the West Indies and naturalized in many places in the Old World; Western Australia, Northern Territory; native of tropical America, now widespread throughout the tropics.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Sepals unequal, the 3 outer 20-25 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, densely hirsute, the 2 inner 12-15 mm long, 5-7 mm wide, glabrous, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate; corollas campanulate white, 2-3.5 cm long, glabrous; stamens subequal, the filaments glandular pubescent at the base, 8-9 mm long, the anthers spiraled with dehiscence, 3-4 mm long; pollen 3-colpate; ovary glabrous, ovoid to subglobose, 3-4 mm long, the style 10-12 mm long, the stigma 2-globose.
Fruits:
Fruits capsular, globose to subglobose, 9-10 mm long and wide, 4-locular, 4-valved, glabrous
Habit:
Herbs; stems twining, cylindrical, striate, glabrous or more commonly with patent, yellowish hirsute indumentum.
Inflorescences:
Flowers 6-9 in cymes or rarely solitary, the peduncles 5-25 cm long, pedicels 1-3 cm long, both patently hirsute, the bracts 2-5.5 mm long, lanceolate, caducous;
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Merremia aegyptia (L.) Urban, Symb. Antill. 4: 505. 1910.

Leaves:
Petioles 2-12 cm long, with patent indumentum like stems. Leaf blades palmately compound, the leaflets 5-9 cm long, 1-4(-5) cm wide, subsessile, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, acuminate, entire, basally attenuate, with appressed-pilose indumentum on both surfaces.
Pollen:
Pollen 3-colpate.
References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

Johnson, R. W. Austrobaileya 8: 55–63. 2009

References:

Lewis, W. H. 1967. Chromosome numbers of phanerogams. 2. Annals Missouri Bot. Gard. 54: 178–181.

References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

Seeds:
seeds usually 4, glabrous, tan to light brown, truncate apically, rounded, smooth, 3-4 mm long.
Synonyms:

Ipomoea aegyptia L., Sp. Pl. 162. 1753. TYPE. Tropical America. LINN 218.35 (holotype, LINN).

Convolvulus pentaphyllus L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2. 223. 1762, nomen illegit. TYPE. based on the same type as I. aegyptia.

Ipomoea pentaphylla (L.) Jacquin, Coll. Bot. 2: 297. 1788.

Spiranthera pentaphylla (L.) Bojer, Hort. Maurit. 226. 1837.

Batatas pentaphylla (L.) Choisy, Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve 6: 436. 1834.

Merremia pentaphylla (L.) Hallier f., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 16: 552. 1893.

Operculina aegyptia (L.) House, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 33: 502. 1906.

Convolvulus nemorosus Willd. ex Roem. & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 4: 303. 1819. TYPE. Venezuela. Cumaná, Humboldt [565] (holotype B-W 3718).

Merremia pentaphylla var. nemorosa (Willd.) Hallier f., Jahrb. Hamb. Wiss. Anst. 16: 38. 1898.

Ipomoea pilosa Cav., Icones Pl. 4: 11. tab. 323. 1797. TYPE. Habitat in America calidore (MA, not found).

Ipomoea sinaloensis Brandegee, Zoe 5: 217. 1905. TYPE. Mexico. Sinaloa: near Culiacan, Sept. 1904, Brandegee s.n. (lectotype UC; isolectotype US 572010).

Tue, 2011-10-04 07:55 -- George Staples
Cuscuta desmouliniana

Author:
Mihai Costea
Author:
Mihai Costea
Distribution:

Mexico: Baja California and Sonora.

Editor:
Mihai Costea
Flowers:
5-merous, 2--3 mm, membranous, white when fresh, creamy-white when dried, papillae usually present on the pedicels, calyx, abaxial and adaxial epidermis of corolla lobes, and sometimes on the ovary/capsule; laticifers not visible or hardly so in the midveins of corolla lobes, elongate; calyx 0.6--1.2 mm, brownish-yellow, ± reticulate or shiny, campanulate, equaling or somewhat longer than the corolla tube, divided 1/3–1/2 the length, tube 0.25--0.5 mm, lobes 0.5–0.76 mm, not overlapping, triangular-ovate to lanceolate, weakly to distinctly carinate, with small dome-like multicellular projections on the midveins, margins irregular, ± revolute at the base and forming angled sinuses (especially when lobes are triangular ovate), apex acute to acuminate; corolla 1.5--2.9 mm, tube narrow-campanulate, 0.8--1.5 mm, lobes 1--1.5 mm, initially erect, later spreading or reflexed, slightly longer than the tube, lanceolate, margins entire sometimes involute upon drying and appearing very narrow, apex acute, ± incurved; stamens short-exserted, shorter than corolla lobes, anthers 0.4--0.6 x 0.2--0.3 mm, ovate to oblong, filaments 0.4--0.7 mm; infrastaminal scales 0.6--1 mm long, ca. 3/4 of the corolla tube, bridged at 0.1--0.2 mm, oblong to spathulate, short-fringed, fimbriae 0.05--0.15 mm; styles 1.2--2.1 mm, longer than the ovary, evenly filiform.
Fruits:
Capsules circumscissile, 1.5--2 × 0.9--1.7 mm, globose, to globose-depressed, slightly thickened and risen, or with a few protuberances around the inconspicuous interstylar aperture, translucent, capped by the withered corolla.
Habit:
Parasitic; annual; stems 0.3-0.45 mm in diameter.
Inflorescences:
loose, umbellate, often confluent; pedicels 1--5 mm; bracts 1 at the base of clusters and 0--1 at the base of pedicels, 0.6--1 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, margins entire, apex acute.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Cuscuta desmouliana Yunck., Ill. Biol. Monogr. 6: 130. 1931.

Phenology:

Hosts: Boerhavia, Chamaesyce, Pectis; elevation 30-300 m.

References:

Costea, M. 2007-onwards. Digital Atlas of Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae). Wilfrid Laurier University Herbarium, Ontario, Canada. Morphology of type specimen; additional specimen; pollen.

Costea,M., S. Stefanović. 2010. Evolutionary history and taxonomy of Cuscuta umbellata complex (Convolvulaceae): evidence of extensive hybridizationfrom discordant nuclear and plastid phylogenies. Taxon 59: 1783–1800.

Yuncker, J. G. 1932. The genus Cuscuta. Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 18:113–331.

Seeds:
2--4 per capsule, 0.75--0.9 × 0.7--0.8 mm, angled, subrotund to broadly elliptic, seed coat cells alveolate/papillate.
Synonyms:

Cuscuta desmouliniana Yuncker var. attenuiloba Yunck., Illinois Biol. Monogr. 6. 2-3: 41. 1921.

Cuscuta umbellata var. dubia Yunck., Ill. Biol. Monogr. 6: 133. 1921.

Mon, 2011-10-03 23:44 -- Mihai Costea
Cuscuta cotijana

Author:
Mihai Costea
Author:
Mihai Costea
Distribution:

Mexico: Michoacan and Jalisco.

Ecology:

The species grows at 1700–1900 m elevation in ruderal vegetation within villages and in the
adjacent, mostly disturbed oak and pine forests, sometimes in the canopy of trees 3–4 m high above the ground. Hosts: herbaceous and woody plants from genera such as Alnus, Baccharis, Eupatorium, Fuchsia, Salvia, Solanum, Vernonia, and Vitis.

Flowers:
5-merous, 5–7 mm long, fleshy, white when fresh, creamy to brown when dried; papillae absent; laticifers numerous, isolated or in groups of 2–5, evident in the calyx, corolla and ovary/capsule, mostly ovoid or elongate; calyx creamy-yellow when fresh and brown when dried, campanulate, ca. 1/2–1/3 the length of the corolla tube, divided ca. 2/3 of its length, the tube 1.2–1.35 mm long, the lobes overlapping, 1.2–1.6 × 2.2–2.8 mm, broadly-triangular (broader than long), auriculate, margins entire to slightly crenulate, the apices rounded; outer two calyx lobes with a spur- or crest-like projection that extends along calyx lobe for 0.7–1.5 mm and protrudes dorsally for 0.7–1.2 mm, the projections often denticulate or provided with 2–4 thick fimbriae; corollas persistent on fruit, the tubes campanulate, 3–3.3 mm long, the lobes initially erect, later spreading or reflexed, 2.2–2.5 mm long, ovate, auriculate, the margins entire, overlapping at base, the apices rounded, initially hooded, later flat; stamens exserted, shorter than corolla lobes, the anthers elliptic to broadly-elliptic, 0.9–1.1×0.6–0.7 mm, filaments 0.7–1 mm long; infrastaminal scales equaling corolla tube, 2.5–2.7 mm long, oblong to obovate, rounded, ± uniformly, dense fimbriate, fimbriae 0.3–0.9 mm long; styles subulate, basally thickened, apically narrowed, 1.3–2.5 mm long, as long or shorter as the ovary; stigmas 0.4–0.6 mm in diameter, globose, convoluted.
Fruits:
Capsules dehiscent, ovoid to conical, 2–4 × 2.5–4 mm, the base of the styles forming a conic beak, 0.9–1.5 mm long, the interstylar aperture barely visible, the corolla persistent around the capsule.
Habit:
Parasitic; annual; stems 0.6–1.5 mm diam, orange.
Inflorescences:
glomerule-like cymes with 3–15 flowers, often confluent in larger, dense inflorescences; pedicels 1–2.5 mm long; bract 1 at the base of clusters, usually absent at the base of pedicels, 1–2.5 × 0.8–1.1 mm, fleshy, ovate-triangular to lanceolate, the margins entire, apices acute.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Cuscuta cotijana Costea & I. García, Brittonia 60(3): 235. 2008.

Pollen:
22–25 μm long, prolate to prolate-spheroidal, the tectum microreticulate; lumina maximum diameter 1 μm; supratectal process granular to conical, ± uniformly distributed.
References:

Costea, M., I.R. Garcia, M. Welsh. 2008. A new species of Cuscutafrom Michoacán, Mexico. Brittonia 60: 235–239.

Costea, M. 2007-onwards. Digital Atlas of Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae). Wilfrid Laurier University Herbarium, Ontario, Canada. Morphology of type specimen; pollen; living plants.

Seeds:
4 per capsule, broadly elliptic, angled, 1.5–2.1×1.4–1.6 mm, the seed coat wrinkled in a radial pattern, not alveolate when dry, the cells slightly papillate, 18–35 μm in diameter, the epicuticular wax absent, the hilum region round, 0.5–0.7 mm diam., the vascular scar 0.18–0.25 mm long, slightly oblique.

Mon, 2011-10-03 23:09 -- Mihai Costea
Operculina polynesica

Author:
Staples, G.
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
General comments:

Label data from Cook Islands specimens (Sykes 3740/CI and 3878/CI) indicate that the fresh corollas are as much as 7.0–8 cm long and 8–9.0 cm across the limb. The largest corollas seen in dried material are 6.5 cm long.

Author:
Staples, G.
Distribution:

Pacific Islands including Tonga (Ha‘apai group, Tofua, Vavau), Niue, Cook Islands (Atiu), the Tuamotu Archipelago (Tikehau, Niau, Rangiroa) eastward to the Pitcairn group (Henderson Island).

Ecology:

Apparently always on coral
substrates; elevations
from sea level to 35 m.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flowers showy, diurnal, odorless. Calyx clasping base of corolla tube, sepals broadly elliptic to subcircular, ± equal or inner slightly shorter, 18–23 mm long; outer 3 rounded, emarginate to praemorse apically, margins entire, glabrous or finely puberulous medially; inner 2 obtuse, mucronulate, glabrous; all 5 enlarging in Fruit, adaxially stramineous and shiny, finely pitted, abaxially tan to pale brownish, (sub)glabrous, enclosing the Fruit. Corolla flaring funnelform, 5–6.5 cm × 3.5–4.5 cm, white, outside glabrous; stamens subequal, 18–20 mm long, filaments pubescent on basal 1/3, glabrous above; anthers spirally dehiscent, 4–6 mm long, white. Pistil 30–33 mm long, disc annular, wider than ovary, blackish; ovary ovoid, ca 3 mm long, glabrous; style filiform, stigmas 2, globose.
Fruits:
Fruit an operculate capsule, ca 3.0 × 2.5 cm, glabrous, circumscissile above the middle; operculum not seen; endocarp thinly papery, translucent.
Habit:
A robust twiner or prostrate trailer; stems herbaceous, terete or striate, 5–14 mm diam., finely puberulous to glabrate, fistulose.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescences axillary, cymose, 1–3-flowered; peduncles stout, 5.0–12.4(–18.0) cm long; branches (6–)17–20 mm long; bracts paired, elliptic to oblong, 1.1–1.3 cm long, incurved around pedicel, caducous; pedicels angulate, 2.0–4.3 cm long, thickened and clavate in Fruit (then thicker than peduncle).
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Operculina polynesica Staples, Pac. Sci. 61: 588. 2007. TYPE. Pitcairn Islands, Henderson Island, South West Point, 15 May 1991, J. Florence, Chepstov–Lusty & Waldren 10,909 (holotype K; isotypes BISH, BM, CHR, E, L, P, PTBG, TCD, US).

Leaves:
Leaf petiole (2.0–)5.5–9.5(13.5) cm long, sulcate; blade broadly cordiform, suborbicular to broadly ovate, 9.3–21 × 8.6–20 cm, herbaceous to slightly fleshy, base broadly cordate, apex tapering acuminate to cuspidate, mucronulate, adaxial side appressed sericeous to glabrous, abaxial side villous to subglabrous, trichomes denser along veins.
Phenology:

flowering: June, July, October; Fruiting: May, October.

References:

Staples, G. (2007). Checklist of Pacific Operculina (Convolvulaceae), including a new species. Pacific Science 61: 587–593.

References:

Staples, G. (2007). Checklist of Pacific Operculina (Convolvulaceae), including a new species. Pacific Science 61: 587–593.

Seeds:
Seeds 4 or less, carinate, black, 10–12 mm × ca 10 mm, glabrous, surface finely roughened, matt; hilum basal, reniform to semicircular, ca 4 × 5 mm, yellowish in center.

Mon, 2011-10-03 08:35 -- Esmond
Operculina ventricosa

Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Distribution:

Presumed native in the Caribbean (Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles) and also in El Salvador; introduced and naturalized in the Pacific (Guam, Mariana Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu); cultivated in India (Kerala).

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
sepals ± equal or the outermost slightly larger, elliptic-ovate, rounded at the base, margins entire, apex rounded to retuse, mucronulate, pubescent basally and medially only, 25–39 mm long and 10–20 mm wide; corolla campanulate to broadly funnelform, glabrous, white, 60–95 mm long and 50–85 mm wide; stamens unequal, included within the corolla tube, anthers strongly twisted at maturity, whitish, 4–7 mm long, filaments, Pollen, ovary, style, and stigma not seen.
Fruits:
Fruit a subglobose, operculate capsule, surrounded by the accrescent calyx, tan to brown, endocarp hyaline, 2-chambered, each with 1 or 2 Seeds, 20–35 mm in diameter
Habit:
Large vine or liana to 6 m long, glabrous or sparsely pubescent with simple trichomes, becoming canescent toward the tips; stems fistulose., cylindrical or elliptical in cross section, smooth or faintly longtitudinally striate, becoming woody in the lower portions, 6–8 mm in diameter.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescence an axillary 3–5-flowered cyme or occasionally Flowers solitary; peduncles stout, cylindrical, smooth or slightly striate, exceeding the subtending petioles, 50–240 mm long and 3–5 mm in diameter; bracts two, foliaceous, caducous, lanceolate-elliptic, basally truncate, margins entire and simple, apex attenuate, 24–33 mm long and 6–11 mm wide, secondary and tertiary bracts similarly shaped but smaller in size, 15–25 mm long and 3–9 mm wide; pedicels clavate, smooth, striate or five-angulate, silvery canescent when immature, thickening and becoming glabrous in Fruit, 15–45 mm long
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Operculina ventricosa (Bertero) Peter in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 4(3a): 32. 1891.

Leaves:
Petioles slender, slightly swollen at the base, longitudinally striate and often sulcate ventrally, 35–180 mm long and to 4 mm in diameter. Leaves simple, membranaceous, deeply cordate, margin entire, apex acute to acuminate, the veins impressed above and prominent on the lower surface, the pubescence concentrated along the veins, 95–220 mm long and 80–185 mm wide.
Pollen:
Pollen not seen.
References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

Seeds:
Seeds 2–4, black, glabrous, subglobose, keeled with a prominent hilum, 8–10 mm long and as wide.
Synonyms:

Convolvulus ventricosus Bertero in Colla, Hortus Ripul. 37. 1824. TYPE. Guadalupa ubi in hortis cultus ex Ins. S. Bartholomei, Bertero (not found).

Ipomoea ventricosa (Bertero) G. Don, Gen. Syst. 4: 274. 1838.

Calonyction ventricosum (Bertero) Hallier f., Bull. Herb. Boissier 5: 1027. 1897.

Operculina turpethum var. ventricosa (Bertero) Staples & Austin, Brittonia 33: 595. 1981.

Misapplied name: Operculina grandiflora authors not Jacquin (1777): e.g., House, Muhlenbergia 5: 69. 1909.

Mon, 2011-10-03 08:28 -- Esmond
Operculina sericantha

Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Distribution:

Venezuela, the Guianas and Brazil

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
sepals more or less equal or theouter 2 slightly longer, membranaceous, elliptic to broadly ovate, basally rounded or truncate, margins entire, slightly scarious, apically obtuse or rounded, mucronate, 17–30 mm long, 8–20 mm wide, enlarging and becoming chartaceous in Fruit; corollas campanulate to broadly funnelform, white, limb entire or slightly 5-lobed, with sericeous indumentum onthe interplicae, 55–70 mm long, 40–55 mm wide; stamens more or less equal, included within the corolla tube, the filaments simple, glabrous, the anthers spirally dehiscent, twisted at maturity, white,6–8 mm long; ovary conical, glabrous, 2 mm long; disc annular, glabrous; the style filiform, glabrous, shorter than corolla tube, the stigma 2–globose.
Fruits:
Fruits operculate-capsular, often 2-locular, each locule with 1–2 Seeds, the accrescent calyx surrounding the Fruit, the capsule 30–35 mm long, 35–40 mm in diameter
Habit:
Lianas or vigorous climbers; stems to several meters, all vegetative parts glabrous, fistulose, smooth or striate, never alate, to 6 mm in diameter.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescences dichasial or Flowers solitary; peduncles stout, cylindrical, smooth, never alate, usually exceeding the subtending petioles, to 3–4 mm in diameter, 55–155 mm long; bracts and bracteoles membranaceous, fugaceous, lanceolate to elliptic, basally truncate, apically rounded to acute, reddish-brown, 7–15 mm long, 2–6 mm wide; pedicels slender, clavate, striate to faintly 5-angled, thickening (but not appreciably lengthening) in Fruit, 17–40 mm long
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Operculina sericantha (Miquel) Ooststr. in Pulle, Fl. Surinam 87. 1932.

Leaves:
Leaves with petioles slender, longitudinally striate, basally swollen, 35–75 mm long, the blades usually broadly cordate, occasionally ovate-lanceolate, coriaceous, margins entire or undulate, basally cordate, apically attenuate or caudate, the secondary veins slightly impressed on the adaxial surface and prominent below, 75–160 mm long, 20–115 mm wide.
References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

Seeds:
Seeds subglobose, dark brown to black, with a prominent hilum, glabrous, 10–13 mm in diameter.
Synonyms:

Ipomoea sericantha Miquel, Stirp. Surin. 131. 1850. TYPE. Surinam. flumen Marrowyne superius, Aug 1844, Kappler 1864 (holotype U; isotype S).

Operculina surinamensis Meisner in Martius, Fl. Bras. 7: 214. 1869. TYPE. Surinam. ad Paramaribo et Caxanama, Wullschlaegel 854 (holotype BR; isotype BR).

Mon, 2011-10-03 08:23 -- Esmond
Operculina pteripes

Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Distribution:

Mexico, Middle America and northern South America.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flowers 2–12 in cymose clusters, less often solitary; peduncles 2–15 cm long, with 3 wings in the central part, wings 0.6–3.5 mm wide, becoming attenuate toward both ends, rarely without wings; pedicels 1.5–3.5 cm long, enlarged toward the apex; the bracts caducous, the bracteoles 9–10 mm long, 3–3.5 mm wide, lanceolate, acute, caducous; sepals subequal, the outer 2.2–2.6 cm long, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 1.5–1.9 cm wide, obtuse or subacute, glabrous, basally truncate, the inner 2.3–2.5 cm long, ovate, 1.5–1.8 cm wide, subobtuse to obtuse, basally rounded, glabrous; corolla salverform, pink, red-orange to red-salmon, 4–7 cm long, the tube 5–10 mm in diameter, finely tomentose on the tube and interplicae, stamens subequal, exserted, 4–5 cm long, the anthers spirally dehiscent, 7–8 mm long; ovary ovoid, glabrous, the style 3–4 cm long, the stigma 2–globose.
Fruits:
Fruits operculate, ellipsoid, surrounded by the somewhat enlarged sepals, brown, the mesocarp and endocarp translucent, 1.5–2 cm in diameter
Habit:
Herbs; the stems herbaceous for most of their length, becoming somewhat woody near the base in some plants, cylindrical, striate to angular, glabrous.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Operculina pteripes (G. Don) O'Donell, Lilloa 23: 435. 1950.

Leaves:
Petioles 1–8 cm long, glabrous or pubescent toward the apex. Leaf blades ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 3–13 cm long, 2–8 cm wide, basally cordate to subtruncate, the basal lobes usually rounded and the sinus shallow, apically acute to acuminate, mucronate, glabrous or less commonly pubescent near the base of the blade below.
References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

Seeds:
Seeds 1–4, black, 8–9 mm long, oblong-ovoid, glabrous.
Synonyms:

Calonyction pteripes G. Don, Gen. Syst. 4: 264. 1838. TYPE. Ecuador. herb. Ruiz.& Pavon (holotype MA?; isotype F).

Ipomoea alatipes Hooker, Bot. Mag. 88: plate 5330. 1862. TYPE. Hayes s.n. (syntype); Seemann s.n. (syntype); Fendler 2084 (syntype, GH).

Operculina alatipes (Hooker) House, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 33: 499. 1906.

Operculina pteropus Meisner in Martius, Fl. Bras. 7: 214. 1869. TYPE. Ecuador. Guayaquil, Pavon (holotype MA?).

Ipomoea alata Rose, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 1: 108. 1891, nomen illegit., not of R. Brown (1810). TYPE. Mexico. Sonora: Alamos, 16–30 Sep 1890, Palmer 706 (holotype US; isotype GH).

Operculina rubicunda House, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 33: 498. 1906. TYPE. A new name based on same type as I. alata Rose.

Ipomoea rhodocalyx A. Gray, Proc. Amer. Acad. Sci. 22: 439. 1887. TYPE. Mexico. Jalisco: at base of hills, Tequila, Palmer 421 (holotype GH; isotype US).

Operculina rhodocalyx (Gray) House, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 33: 498. 1906.

Operculina lancifolia House, Muhlenbergia 5: 68. 1909. TYPE. Mexico. Chiapas: Valley of Jiquipilas, 16–18 Aug 1895, E.W. Nelson 2923 (holotype, US).

Misapplied name: Ipomoea pterodes of authors not Choisy (1845): e.g., Seemann, Bot. Voy. Herald 171. 1854.

Mon, 2011-10-03 08:20 -- Esmond
Operculina pinnatifida

Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
General comments:

Although the Bonpland type specimen is labeled as originating in Cuba, no subsequent collections for O. pinnatifida have ever been made there. We believe that the type gathering actually came from Mexico and that there was a confusion of labels.

Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Distribution:

U.S.A. (Texas), Mexico and Guatemala.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flowers 2 or 3 in monochasial cymes or solitary; the peduncles 3–12 cm long, glabrous, some partly winged at least in the upper portion; the pedicels 12–20 mm long, enlarged toward the apex, at times angular and slightly winged, club-shaped in Fruit, bracts 7–10 mm long, lanceolate to linear; sepals subequal, 15–16 mm long, the outer 10–13 mm wide, obtuse, mucronate, the inner 9–13 mm wide, obovate, concave, all glabrous; corollas campanulate, white, 3.5–5 cm long, 4–5 cm wide, the interplicae sericeous with long trichomes; stamens unequal (2 short, 2 medium, 1 long), included within the corolla tube, filaments fused for one half their length, bearded where attached to the corolla tube, glabrous where free, 15–19 mm long, anthers white, spirally curled in dehiscence, 7–9 mm long; Pollen 3-colpate, smooth; ovary ovoid, glabrous, 2-locular, 2 mm long, with annular disc.
Fruits:
Fruits operculate, subglobose to depressed globose, 1.5–2 cm in diameter, brown, the mesocarp and endocarp thin and translucent
Habit:
Herbs; the stems twining cylindrical or angular at least in the dried condition, glabrous.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Operculina pinnatifida (Kunth) O'Donell, Lilloa 23: 432. 1960.

Leaves:
Petioles 1–6.5 cm long, often with some trichomes near the base, but these sparse. Leaf blades ovate in outline, pinnately lobed or pinnately dissected, often with 5–9 lobes, 2–12 cm long, 2–11 cm wide, the segments linear, oblong, ovate or less commonly obovate or irregularly lobed, usually acuminate and attenuate toward the base, the middle segment linear, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, mostly long acuminate, the base of the lobe often constricted, the base of the blade cordate to subtruncate, both sides with sparse trichomes at least along the veins, sometimes restricted to the basal part of the blade.
Pollen:
Pollen 3-colpate, smooth
References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

Seeds:
Seeds four or less, black, glabrous, 6–7 mm long
Synonyms:

Convolvulus pinnatifidus Kunth in Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 3: 108. 1819. TYPE. Cuba. Habana. Bonpland s.n. (microfiche seen).

Ipomoea pinnatifida (Kunth) G. Don, Gen. Syst. 4: 280. 1838.

Merremia pinnatifida (Kunth) Hallier f., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 16: 552. 1893.

Ipomoea ornithopoda Robinson, Proc. Amer. Acad. Sci. 19: 183. 1893. TYPE. Mexico. San Luis Potosí: Canoas, July 1890, Pringle 3553 (holotype GH).

Operculina ornithopoda (Robinson) House, Bot. Gaz. 49: 414. 1909.

Operculina pectinata House, Muhlenbergia 5: 69. 1909. TYPE. Mexico. Oaxaca: about Lagunas, E.W. Nelson 2646 (holotype US; isotypes GH, NY).

Operculina angustiloba House, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 33: 501. 1906. TYPE. Mexico. San Luis Potosí: San Dieguito, Palmer 112 (holotype US; isotype GH).

Operculina roseana House, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 33: 500. 1906. TYPE. Mexico. Sonora:.Agiabampo, Palmer 781 (holotype US; isotypes GH, U).

Ipomoea megacarpa Brandegee, Zoe 5: 218, 1905. TYPE. Mexico. Growing about Culiacan, 6 Sep 1904, Brandegee s.n. (lectotype UC; isolectotypes GH, US).

Operculina ornithopoda var. megacarpa (Brandegee) Robinson, Proc. Amer. Acad. Sci. 51: 530. 1916.

Mon, 2011-10-03 08:16 -- Esmond
Operculina macrocarpa

Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Distribution:

Windward Islands, Caribbean, to Brazil and in west tropical Africa.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Flowers:
Flowers 1–3 in cymose clusters; the peduncles axillary, 5–13 cm long, terete below, membranaceous winged above; the pedicels 2.5–4 cm long, dilated above, undulate-winged, wings 1–2 mm wide; the bracts oblong, acuminate, 2–3 cm long; sepals glabrescent, broadly ovate, obtuse to rounded or emarginate apically, markedly convex and rounded basally, papery, straw-colored, 2–3.5 cm long, 1.4–2 cm wide, the margins scarious, becoming brown and coriaceous in Fruit; corollas campanulate, white, 4–7.5 cm long, puberulent on the interplicae; stamens subequal, filaments 11–12 mm long, basally glandular pubescent; the anthers 6–7 mm long, spirally dehiscent; Pollen 3-colpate.
Fruits:
Fruits operculate, depressed-globose, 2.5–3.8 cm in diameter, partly enclosed by the enlarged, smooth calyx, glabrous, 2-locular, the pericarp papery, thin, the epicarp brown, the endocarp papery, thin, white, 3–4-lobed
Habit:
Suffruticose herbs; the stems glabrous, twining, reddish, terete to 4-angled to narrowly 4-winged.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Operculina macrocarpa (L.) Urban, Symb. Antill. 3: 343. 1902.

Leaves:
Leaves with petioles 2.5–7.5 cm long, the blade palmately (3–)5–7-lobed or -parted, the lateral lobes less distinct than the terminal and shorter, all oblong to elliptic, attenuate basally and apically, 3.8–10(–16) cm long, 1.2–5 cm wide, glabrous.
Pollen:
Pollen 3-colpate.
References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

Seeds:
Seeds 1–4, black, minutely pubescent near the hilum, glabrous elsewhere, 1–1.3 cm in diameter, obtuse apically, broadly ovoid to ovoid-trigonous.
Synonyms:

Convolvulus macrocarpos L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 923. 1759. TYPE. based on Plumier, Pl. Amer. ed. Burmann, p. 80, pl. 91, fig. 1. 1756 (plate is lectotype).

Convolvulus operculatus Gómez, Mem. Math. Phis. Acad Real Sci. Lisboa 3: Obs. 1. plate 27, fig.3. 1818. TYPE. Brazil. (No specimen found; the illustration would be suitable as lectotype).

Ipomoea operculata (Gomez) Martius in von Spix and Martius, Reise Brasil. 2: 547. 1828.

Operculina convolvulus S. Manso, Enum. Subst. Brazil. 16, 49. 1836, a new name for Convolvulus operculatus Gomez.

Mon, 2011-10-03 08:12 -- Esmond
Operculina leptoptera

Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Contributors:
Distribution Map:
General comments:

We include this name in Operculina, but we are skeptical that it is correctly placed in the genus. The description above was given by D.A. Powell (J. Arnold Arbor. 60: 245. 1979); we have failed to locate any authentic specimens. Although specimens collected by Duss were often deposited in several institutions, such does not seem to be the case with this number.

Author:
Staples, G.W. & D.F. Austin.
Distribution:

Endemic to Martinique, Windward Island group, Caribbean.

Editor:
George Staples, Esmond Er
Habit:
Climber with winged stems, wings arising from decurrent petioles; stems bearing short, appressed hairs.
Inflorescences:
Inflorescences corymbose, 5–8-flowered; bracts lanceolate–oblong or oblong, shortly acuminate, (10–)17 mm long; pedicels 3–3.5 mm long; sepals yellow-green, 17–22 mm long, the outer ones longer, smoothly tomentose; corolla violet, 5–5.5 cm long.
Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication:

Operculina leptoptera Urban, Symb. Antill. 3: 342. 1902. TYPE. Martinique. hauteurs des Trois Islets. Père Duss 426 (type not found in B, F, LE, MO, NY, P).

Leaves:
Petioles (0.8–)3 cm long, long patent-pilose; blades triangular-ovate, 8 cm long, 5–6 cm wide, minutely pubescent on both surfaces, especially on the nerves beneath, the apex acute or somewhat obtuse, mucronate, the base deeply cordate, the margin entire. Peduncles 3.5–5 cm long, scarcely winged
References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

References:

Austin, D. F. & G. W. Staples. Convolvulaceae in Flora Neotropica [unpublished data].

Mon, 2011-10-03 08:02 -- Esmond

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