Ipomoea gracilis R.Br.

Convolvulaceae

Brown, R. (1810) Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae : 484. Type: Northern Australia, R. Brown; (holo: BM?).

Almor-ira

A slender vine not exceeding a stem diameter of 2 cm.

Leaf blades about 3-11 x 1.1-4.5 cm usually purple on the underside and sometimes also on the upper surface, petioles about 0.5-4 cm long grooved in the upper surface. Midrib raised in a depression on the upper surface of the leaf blade. Scattered trichomes usually present.

Flowers about 6-7 cm long. Sepals lanceolate, about 12-15 x 4-7 mm each marked by four or five indistinct lines of red to purple tubercles. Corolla tube about 3-7 cm long expanded to a diameter of 4-4.5 cm at the apex. Stamens all of different lengths, about 15-20 mm long. Anthers about 2.5-3 mm long. Pollen white, grains spinulose, disk yellowish, surrounding the base of the ovary. Ovary about 2-5 mm diam. Style about 2-3 cm long. Stigma 2-lobed, verrucose. Ovules 1 or 2 per locule.

Seeds about 7 mm long, bases clothed in straight thick hairs about 1.5-2 mm long. Cotyledons folded and rolled in a complex fashion. Radicle about 3 mm long.

Features not available.

Occurs in WA, NT, CYP, NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range in northern Australia from near sea level to 900 m. Usually grows in open forest but also found in vine thicket and monsoon forest edges.

A very variable species exhibiting a wide range of leaf blade shape. This species may have medicinal properties. (http://squid2.laughingsquid.net/hosts/herbweb.com /herbage/A13923.htm)

Ipomoea gracilis R.Br. var. gracilis, Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 6: 99(1868). Convolvulus gracilis (R.Br.) Spreng., Systema Vegetabilium 1 : 604(1824). Ipomoea gracilis var. sagittata F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 6: 99(1868), Type: Occurrit monente Dallachio ..