Ipomoea hederifolia L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.

  • Family

    Convolvulaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ipomoea hederifolia L.

  • Description

    Description - Twining vine, slightly woody, attaining 5 m in length, with watery latex. Stems cylindrical, slender, glabrous. Leaves alternate; blades 4-13 x 4.5-11 cm, ovate or deeply 3-5-lobed, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex of the lobes acuminate, the base cordiform or sagittate; upper surface dark green, dull, glabrous, punctate, with the veins slightly prominent; lower surface pale green, with the primary and secondary veins prominent; petioles 4.5-9 cm long, glabrous, slender. Flowers in dichasial cymes with one-sided racemose branches. Calyx pale green, not accrescent, the sepals 5-8 mm long, lanceolate, aristate at the apex; corolla hypocrateriform, bright red or red-orange, 4-4.5 cm long, the limb ca. 2.5 cm in diameter, with 5 obtuse lobes, shallow; stamens and stigmas white or pink, exserted. Capsules globose, ca. 8 mm in diameter, the pericarp thin; seeds 4 per fruit, light brown, ca. 5 mm long, pubescent.

    Phenology - Collected in flower and fruit from October to January.

    Conservation Status - Apparently native, moderately common.