Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. (syn.: Pharbitis hederacea (Jacq.) Choisy) (trop. Am.) – A locally frequent but ephemeral alien in some port areas, primarily in Antwerpen and Gent. Exceptionally seen elsewhere (Izegem, Turnhout,…). All records are associated with grain (incl. soybean) importation. Ipomoea hederacea is usually found near grain mills (unloading quays, under conveyors, on grain dumps, wasteland, road verges), rarely also in fields (introduced with manure).
Leaf shape is rather variable in Ipomoea hederacea. Two varieties – doubtlessly with restricted taxonomical value – have been observed in Belgium: var. hederacea and var. integriuscula A. Gray., the former being predominant. They are distinguished as follows:
- Leaves deeply 3-lobed === var. hederacea
- Leaves entire === var. integriuscula
Ipomoea hederacea belongs to the I. nil complex, a cluster of closely related species (Austin 1986). Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth, a widespread pantropical species, is very reminiscent of I. hederacea and could occur as well. It has larger corollas and sepals remain erect at maturity.
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Herbarium specimen (var. hederacea)
Herbarium specimen (var. integriuscula)
Selected literature
Austin D.F. (1986) Nomenclature of the Ipomoea nil complex (Convolvulaceae). Taxon 35: 355-358.
Austin D.F., Staples G. & Bianchini R.S. (2014) Typification of Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. Taxon 63(1): 167-171.
Lambinon J. (1991) Adventices grainières et autres plantes intéressantes observées en 1990 au port d’Anvers (Belgique). Dumortiera 49: 1-6.
Robbrecht E. & Jongepier J.-W. (1989) De synantrope flora van het havengebied van Gent (België, Oost-Vlaanderen), waarnemingen van 1986 tot 1988. Dumortiera 44: 1-12.
Sotiaux A., Roegiers O. & De Zuttere P. (1981) Un mode curieux d’introduction de phanérogames adventices par les fumures. Dumortiera 19-20: 26-28.
Verloove F. & Vandenberghe C. (1993) Nieuwe en interessante graanadventieven voor de Noordvlaamse en Noordfranse flora, hoofdzakelijk in 1992. Dumortiera 53-54: 35-57.