Plant: perennial herb; Glabrous with globose or elongate, tuberous roots; stems erect to procumbent, ascending, not twining or only slightly at tips

Leaves: orbicular in outline, 1-3 cm long, glabrous, palmately dissected to rarely cuneate-obovate, the apex laciniate-dentate, the base cordate, the lobes acute; petioles 2-5 mm long

INFLORESCENCE: 1-flowered; peduncles 1.5-2.5 cm long, erect or reflexed in fruit; bracts caducous

Flowers: sepals unequal, the outer sepals 5-8 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, oblong, obtuse to acute, mucronate, muricate at least along the midrib, the inner sepals 7-9(-10) mm long, 3-4 mm wide, broadly ovate, acute to acuminate, muricate on the midrib or glabrous; corollas broadly funnelform, 2.5-3.1 cm long, purple, glabrous, the limb 1.8-2.2 cm wide; stamens 8-10 mm long, included, the anthers 1.5 mm long; ovary ovoid, 1 mm long, 2-locular, green, glabrous; styles 13-14 mm long, white

Fruit: FRUITS globose, 5-6 mm wide, the apiculum to 5 mm long. SEEDS 1-4, 2-2.5 mm long, ovoid, black to dark brown, finely tomentose

Misc: Open rocky slopes; 1350-2600 m (4500-8500 ft); Aug-Sep

REFERENCES: Austin, Daniel F. 1998. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Convolvulaceae 30(2): 61.

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Vine

General: Perennial herb arising from elongated or globose tubers, erect to ascending or procumbent, not twining or only at the tips, glabrous.

Leaves: Palmately divided leaves, rarely ovate or cone-shaped, 1-3 cm long.

Flowers: Purple and broadly funnelform, to 3 cm long, sepals 7-9 mm long, stamens included, 8-10 mm, ovary 2 locular, ovoid. Borne on peduncles 1.5-2.5 cm long.

Fruits: Globose capsules, 5-6 mm wide, the protruding stem to 5 mm long. Seeds finely tomentose, black to brown, 2-2.5 mm long.

Ecology: Found on open, rocky slopes, from 4,500-8,500 ft (1372-2591 m); flowers August-September.

Notes: This species is similar at first glance to Ipomoea capillacea, but I. plummerae has larger leaves 1-3 cm, compared to I. capillacea, which has leaves 0.5-1.5 cm. The flowers of I. plummerae are also borne on longer peduncles. Also, I. capillacea tends to have a neat appearence, with many of the leaves ascending up the stem, while I. plummerae tends to be less neatly arranged with the leaves in scattered clumps. Lastly, I. capillacea has noticeable outgrowths on the sepals.

Ethnobotany: There is no specific use for this species, but the genus was used as an emetic, to treat worms and constipation, as a tonic, to treat asthma, and the tubers were used as food.

Synonyms: Ipomoea muricata, several others, see Tropicos

Editor: LCrumbacher, 2011

Ipomoea plummerae var. plummerae is a pinkish purple morning glory with corollas 2-3 cm in diameter at the top. The foliage is pedately divided-- into finger like segments. The foliage resembles that of Ipomoea costellata, but the flowers are much larger and deeper in color. In addition, the sepals of Ipomoea capillacea have conspicous excrescences on them. Ipomoea plummerae var. plummerae is twining when mature, but may appear upright and be confused with Ipomoea capillacea when still immature. Ipomoea plummerae var. plummerae has a nearly globose bulb while Ipomoea capillacea has an elongate bulb.