Ipomoea biflora (L.) Pers.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve

Photo: Bart Wursten
Pokoteke Gorge, near Masvingo

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Synonyms:	Ipomoea cardiosepala Baker & Wright Ipomoea cynanchifolia C.B. Clarke Ipomoea plebeia R. Br. subsp. africana A. Meeuse
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Slender prostrate or twining annual herb. Leaves ovate-triangular, 4-9 cm long, cordate at the base, hairy with ciliate margins; margin entire. Flowers axillary, solitary or in few-flowered heads, sessile or on a short peduncle up to 1 cm long. Corolla relatively small, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, funnel-shaped, white, sometimes with a purple centre. Sepals ovate-triangular, hairless or pubescent, accrescent in fruit. Capsule hairless. Seeds shortly pubescent.
Type location:	Hong Kong
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In woodland, grassland, scrub, along roadsides and in cultivated areas.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa, Southern Africa, Asia and Australia.
FZ divisions:	N,C,S
Growth form(s):	Climber, annual.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 48. as I. plebeia africana Gonçalves, M.L. (1987). Convolvulaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(1) Page 63. as I. plebeia africana Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 370. as I. plebeia africana (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 36. as I. plebeia africana Mwanga Mwanga, I.J.-C., Sosef, M.S.M. & Simoes, A.R.G., (2022). Convolvulaceae Flore d'Afrique Centrale Nouvelle Serie Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Page 209. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 87. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 43. as I. plebeia africana Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 50. as I. plebeia africana Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 94. as Ipomoea cynanchifolia (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Ipomoea biflora:

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Flora of Botswana: Ipomoea biflora
Flora of Burundi: Ipomoea biflora
Flora of Caprivi: Ipomoea biflora
Flora of the DRC: Ipomoea biflora
Flora of Mozambique: Ipomoea biflora
Flora of Rwanda: Ipomoea biflora
Flora of Zambia: Ipomoea biflora
Flora of Zimbabwe: Ipomoea biflora

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Ipomoea biflora
African Plant Database: Ipomoea biflora
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Ipomoea biflora
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ipomoea biflora
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Ipomoea biflora
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Ipomoea biflora
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ipomoea biflora
JSTOR Plant Science: Ipomoea biflora
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Ipomoea biflora
Plants of the World Online: Ipomoea biflora
Tropicos: Ipomoea biflora
Wikipedia: Ipomoea biflora