Ipomoea pubescens

Plant: perennial herb; from large oblong root; stems twining, hirsute with retrorse trichomes Leaves: ovate, nearly entire, with the margins sinuate, or 3-5 palmately lobed, 2-8 cm long, 2-9 cm wide, basally cordate, hirsute with antrorse trichomes, at times sericeous, apically acute to obtuse, mucronate, the petioles 2-5 cm long, the lobes elliptic or ovate INFLORESCENCE: 1-2-flowered; peduncles 15-18 mm long; bracts subulate, acuminate, 5-12 mm long Flowers: pedicels 3-10 mm long, erect in fruit; sepals unequal, antrorsely hispid at times sericeous, the outer sepals ovate, acuminate, 9-21 mm long, 5-11 mm wide, basally truncate, the middle sepals asymmetrical, ovate, acuminate, 9-19 mm long, 3-8 mm wide, the inner sepals ovate-lanceolate, 9-20 mm long, 2-4 mm wide; corollas funnelform, 5.5-8 cm long, blue to violet, glabrous, the limb 6-7 cm wide; stamens 30-35 mm long, with few glandular trichomes on base of filaments, the anthers sagittate, 3-4 mm long; ovary globose to ovoid, 1.5-1.75 mm long, 3-locular, glabrous; styles 40-45 mm long; stigmas 3-capitate Fruit: FRUITS surrounded by the sepals, globose, 10-12 mm wide. SEEDS 3-6, 5-6 mm long, ovoid, brown to black, densely pubescent with velvety trichomes Misc: Rocky areas and stream beds in oak woodland; 1050-1350 m (3500-4500 ft); Aug-Sep REFERENCES: Austin, Daniel F. 1998. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Convolvulaceae 30(2): 61.

Austin 1998, Kearney and Peebles 1969, McDougall 1973

Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Vine General: Herbaceous perennials, stems twining, herbage pubescent to hirsute with long, silky, appressed hairs, plants arising from a large, oblong, tuberous-thickened root. Leaves: Alternate, ovate to 3-5 times palmately lobed, the lobes elliptic to ovate, entire blade 2-8 cm long and 2-9 cm wide, margins entire to sinuate, acute to obtuse and mucronate at the tips, cordate at the base, blade surfaces pubescent to hirsute with long, silky, appressed hairs, borne on petioles 2-5 cm long. Flowers: Blue to violet, corollas funnelform, 5.5-8 cm long, 6-7 cm in diameter, sepals unequal, ovate and acuminate at the tips, more or less silky hairy, outer sepals 9-21 mm long, 5-11 mm wide, basally truncate, middle sepals asymmetrical, 9-19 mm long, 3-8 mm wide, inner sepals ovate-lanceolate, 9-20 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, bracts tapering to a point, acuminate, 5-12 mm long, stamens 30-35 mm long, with a few glandular hairs at the base of the filaments, the anthers arrowhead-shaped (sagittate), 3-4 mm long, stigmas 3-capitate, flowers borne solitary or in pairs on peduncles 15-18 mm long. Fruits: Globose capsules, 10-12 mm wide, surrounded by the sepals. Seeds ovoid, 5-6 mm long, brown to black, velvety and densely pubescent, 3-6 per capsule. Ecology: Found on rocky or sandy soils in rocky areas, stream beds, mesas, plains, and in oak woodlands, from 3,500-4,500 ft (1067-1372 m); flowering August-September. Distribution: s AZ, s NM, sw TX; south to s MEX and in S. Amer.. Notes: Distinguished from other regional Ipomoea by being perennial and very hairy with silky, white, appressed hairs on leaves and stems; deeply-divided palmate leaves; long sepals which are broad and gradually narrow to a point and have shorter spreading hairs; and especially the super-large purple flowers with white throats. This species also arises from a large storage tuber. Ethnobotany: There is no use recorded for this species, but other species in this genus have uses. Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos Editor: LCrumbacher 2012, FSCoburn 2015