IPOMOEA-LITTORALIS (CONVOLVULACEAE) - TAXONOMY, DISTRIBUTION, AND ETHNOBOTANY

Ipomoea littoralis (Convolvulaceae), a member of Ipomoea section Batatas, is the only species of the section native and still endemic to the Old World. In spite of confusion in the literature, the correct name for the species is I. littoralis. Plants with which I. littoralis has been confused are endemic to Australia and are properly called I. gracilis. These two names apply to species belonging to different sections of Ipomoea. Ipomoea littoralis probably shares a common ancestor with I. ramosissima of the neotropics. Data from a variety of sources, including common association with people and the many vernacular names for the plants, indicate that they are not only wild but are also encouraged and even cultivated.