Ipomoea mendozae J.R.I.Wood & Scotland

Wood, J.R.I., Carine, M.A., Harris, D. et al. 2015. Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) in Bolivia. Kew Bulletin 70: 31. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-015-9592-7

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate, 5 – 11.5 × 2.5 – 7 cm, ovate to subrhomboid, acute and shortly mucronulate, base truncate to broadly cuneate, adaxially grey-green, densely pubescent with long hairs, abaxially grey-tomentose; petioles 0.5 – 2 cm, tomentose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence subterminal formed of pedunculate 1 – 3 (– 5)-flowered cymes from the upper leaf axils; bracts similar to the leaves but smaller, diminishing in size upwards, peduncles 6 – 12 cm, white-tomentose; secondary peduncles 1 – 1.5 cm, bracteoles 5 – 8 mm, linear to filiform; pedicels 5 – 12 mm, tomentose; sepals subequal, 8 – 10 × 3 – 4 mm, ovate-elliptic, obtuse, outer densely tomentose, the inner similar but with scarious, glabrous margins; corolla 5.5 – 8 cm long, pink, funnel-shaped, in bud tomentose on exterior, at maturity somewhat glabrescent but with pubescent midpetaline bands, limb 5.5 – 6 cm wide, shallowly lobed; stamens included, filaments slightly unequal, glabrous apart from the hirsute expanded basal part, the hairs short, spreading, fleshy, shorter filaments c. 20 mm, longer c. 25 mm, anthers 4 × 0.5 mm; style c. 25 mm long, glabrous, stigma obscurely lobed, ovary glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule and seeds not seen

Ecology

Endemic to the Vallegrande area in the Bolivian inter-Andean valleys where it grows in open grassy scrubland on hillsides from 1900 to 2200 (–2500) m. Map 10.

Conservation

Using Geocat this species has an area of occupancy of a little over 112 km2 and it should be classified as Endangered (EN). There are only six known locations in a relatively well-studied area and at least one of these consisted of a single plant so, although population sizes are not accurately known they may be very small. On the positive side there are no obvious direct threats to these populations but the plant does not grow on roadsides or similar disturbed habitats and so could be vulnerable to habitat change.

Type

Type: Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Prov. Vallegrande, Guadelupe, 350 m de la represa sobre senda a La Estancia Collana, M. Mendoza & E. Calzadilla 416 (holotype USZ; isotype K).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb, stems decumbent or ascending, 0.5 – 1.5 m long, relatively stout and slightly woody, densely white-tomentose

Note

This species is named after Moises Mendoza, one of the younger generation of Bolivian botanists, who has an outstanding eye for unusual plants and is a very promising taxonomist. Amongst many plants he has found is the species described above.

This appears to be a rather isolated species morphologically. The subterminal inflorescence suggests it is essentially erect or ascending in habit as indicated by most field notes. However it is unlike most erect species in South America in its broad leaves and Andean habitat. Broad leaves are a feature of many trailing species (Ipomoea psammophila described in this paper being a good example) from the lowlands but these have obviously axillary inflorescences and differ in a range of other characters.

Flowers during the summer rains from late December to March.

Although clearly recognisable as part of the radiation of species centred on the Chaco because of its pilose corolla and subequal, tomentose sepals, this species lacks obvious close relatives. The combination of scrambling habit, ovate-subrhomboid, discolourous, tomentose leaves, subterminal inflorescence with 1 – 5-flowered cymes and ovate sepals 8 – 10 mm long serve to distinguish it from all species known to us.