Flora of Pernambuco, Brazil: Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae)

Abstract Ipomoea L. is the largest genus in Convolvulaceae with approximately 150 species reported from Brazil, more than 50% of which are from the northeastern region of the country. The genus is represented by 48 species in Pernambuco state, occurring in Atlantic Forest and Caatinga vegetation as well as areas impacted by human activities. We present here an identification key, photographic documentation, taxonomic comments, and the geographical distributions of species in Pernambuco. New records of Ipomoea cearensis O’Donell, I. hirsutissima Gardner and I. squamosa Choisy for the state are reported.


Introduction
Ipomoea L. comprises approximately 800 species and is the largest genus in Convolvulaceae and pantropical in its distribution (Wood et al. 2020).It is included in the tribe Ipomoeeae, which is characterized by echinulate and panthoporate pollen grains, an entire style, and stigma usually with two globose lobes (Stefanović et al. 2003).Molecular analyses suggest that the genus in its traditional sense is paraphyletic and polymorphic, as other genera included in the tribe (e.g., Argyreia Lour.and Turbina Raf.) are nested within it (Manos et al. 2001;Muñoz-Rodriguez et al. 2019).
Ipomoea is widely distributed, mainly in the tropics, with the highest number of species (425) being found in the Americas (Wood et al. 2020).Approximately 160 species have been reported from Brazil, being found in all states and phytogeographical domains, but mainly in dry areas with open vegetation, such as Cerrado and Caatinga (Flora do Brazil 2020, continously updated); they are frequently found, however, along forest edges, in Campos Rupestres, and as pioneer species in disturbed environments (Flora do Brazil 2020;Delgado-Junior et al. 2014).In the area of this study, Ipomoea is represented by 46 species found in Caatinga and Atlantic Forest areas.
Although the genus has been extensively collected and can be easily recognized, its species are morphologically diverse, varying in habit and in vegetative and reproductive characters, leading to difficulty in delimiting their species due to overlapping characters (Miller et al. 1999;Stefanović et al. 2003).The sepals (their shapes, proportions, indumentum, and ornamentation) are important taxonomic characters, especially when combined with vegetative characters such as leaves, indumentum, and the presence/absence of fleshy spines on the stems (Wood et al. 2020).
We provide here a synopsis of the genus Ipomoea in Pernambuco state, including a key for species identification, citations of representative specimens of each species, taxonomic comments, distribution details and illustrations.

Specimens studied
The analyses were based on the examination of more than 600 specimens deposited in the ALCB, ASE, BHCB, EAC, HVASF, HUEFS, NY, IPA, JPB, PEUFR, SP, UFP, UFRN herbaria (acronyms according to Thiers continuously updated) and the Herbário Sergio Tavares (not indexed, HST), as well as images from virtual herbaria (SpeciesLink, Reflora).The authors undertook field trips and studied living plants between 2009 and 2018.

Results & Discussion
Ipomoea is represented by 48 species in Pernambuco, of which 23 are widely distributed in the state; seven occur exclusively in the Atlantic Forest, three are restricted to the coast (Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb, I. pes-caprae (L.) R.Br., and I. violacea L.), and 16 occur only in Caatinga, five of those being endemic to that domain (I.longistaminea O'Donell, I. marcellia (Choisy) Meisner, I. parvibracteolata J.R.I.Wood & L.V.Vasconc, I. pintoi O'Donell, and I. brasiliana var. subincana (Choisy) Meisner).Two species (I.batatas L. and I. horsfalliae Hook.) are exclusively cultivated and are not considered in this treatment.
Ipomoea setifera is cited in the Flora do Brazil website (Simão-Bianchini et al. 2016) as occurring in areas of Caatinga in Pernambuco state.However, the herbarium specimens were misidentified as I. setifera, and are actually I. parvibracteolata.
Ipomoea triloba and I. grandifolia are confused with each other and commonly misidentified.The two species are very similar and hard to distinguish, and we tried to identify the material using the characters proposed by Austin (1978), but without success, because many of them overlap.Thus, we concur with Wood et al. (2015Wood et al. ( , 2020)), who reported that genuine specimens of I. triloba do not occur in South America, and examples found there are here treated as I. grandifolia.
Ipomoea wrightii is cited in the Flora do Brazil website (Simão-Bianchini et al. 2016) as occurring in Caatinga and Atlantic Forest od Pernambuco.Although the name I. wrightii has long been used for this species in the Americas, including Brazil, the oldest and correct name for it is actually I. heptaphylla Sweet, as typified by Verdcourt (1961: 13) and the nomenclature clarified by Manitz (1983)  It can be recognized by having short pedicels (less than 5 mm long); leaves usually cordate, with one or two marginal teeth close to the base (sometimes absent); sepals subequal, acute, inner ones with scarious margins; small corollas (shorter than 3 cm); capsule with a persistent style.In a paper on Bolivian Ipomoea, Wood et al. (2015: 37)  Widely distributed in tropical South America and Africa, with an isolated record from Costa Rica (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil occurs in Amazonian, Caatinga and Atlantic Forest vegetation along the Brazilian coast, from Roraima to Bahia states (Simão-Bianchini et al. 2020)  Ipomoea alba can be easily confused when in fruit with I. muricata (L.) Jacquin, due to the presence of fleshy spines on the stems, and outer sepals with an awn.However, its pedicel is erect and the outer sepals are > 13 mm long (vs.pedicels strongly reflexed and outer sepals < 14 mm long in Ipomoea muricata).When in flower, Ipomoea alba can be easily identified by its white corolla with nocturnal anthesis and exserted stamens (vs. the diurnal anthesis, pale purplish corolla and included stamens typical of I. muricata).
Ipomoea alba has a pantropical distribution as it is widely cultivated as an ornamental and escapes from cultivation (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil it is widely distributed in all states and phytogeographical domains (Simão-Bianchini et al. 2020).In Pernambuco state, it appears to be native to the Atlantic Forest in humid areas and is frequently found in disturbed areas or as a cultivated plant.It can be easily recognized by its completely glabrous, entire, cordate leaves, the basal sinus shallow and broad, sunken nectary present at the petiole base, convex sepals ≤ 4 mm long, corolla > 3.5 cm long, and seeds tomentose, pilose along their margins.
Found in southern United States of America, and from Colombia to Argentina (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil is found in Caatinga, Atlantic Forest and Pantanal areas of Alagoas, Bahia, Pernambuco, Mato Grosso do Sul and Minas Gerais state (Simão-Bianchini et al. 2020).In Pernambuco, it occurs in the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga, normally associated with swampy areas.

4.
Ipomoea aristolochiifolia G. Don, Gen. Hist. iv. 277 (1838) It can be easily recognized by its entire cordate leaves, short corolla (shorter than 2.5 cm), subequal sepals, the outer ones warty and slightly shorter than the inner ones, margins pale when in fruit, and capsule with a persistent style.
Widely distributed from Arizona to Mexico and from Central America to the Andes and Brazil (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil it is found in Amazon, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest areas and in Pernambuco, it occurs in disturbed areas within the Atlantic Forest, in transition areas, or in the Caatinga on quarziticsandy soils (Simão-Bianchini et al. 2020).Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis, 4: 251 (1819).Type: SENEGAL, Roussillon s.n.(holotype: P-Lam).

Fig. 2e
Selected material: Buíque, 7.V. Ipomoea asarifolia, together with I. pescaprae, can be easily distinguished from other species in Pernambuco by their prostrate habit, reniform to orbicular leaves, and outer sepals warty and half as long as the inner ones.The species are both highly polymorphic and intermediates occur.Ipomoea asarifolia usually has cordate leaf bases (vs.rounded to broadly obtuse in I. pes-caprae), and the outer sepals are warty and half the size of the inner ones (vs.smooth and slightly shorter).
Widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, and Asia (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil it is found in Amazonian, Caatinga and Atlantic Forest areas in North and Northeastern regions of the country (Simão-Bianchini et al. 2020).In Pernambuco, it is a quite common species and occurs in disturbed areas from the Atlantic Forest to Caatinga, especially along roads.Highly polymorphic regarding leaf shape and size, corolla size and color, and the ornamentation of the outer sepals.In its typical form, it has sagittate leaves, and the outer sepals have a dorsal, tooth-like appendage.The character cordate leaves are not rare in this species, however, and the sepals can have granular and black dots, or the tooth may be reduced to a raised, dark green line.

Ipomoea bahiensis
Ipomoea bahiensis occurs in Brazil and Bolivia (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil it occurs from Amazon to Rio de Janeiro in Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest areas (Simão-Bianchini et al. 2020).It is a quite common species in Pernambuco state, widely distributed, and frequently found in disturbed areas of Caatinga and Atlantic Forest.It resembles I. amnicola in having convex, equal, and glabrous sepals, but can be easily distinguished from it by having larger sepals (≥ 6 mm) and corollas (≥ 5 cm), and woolly seeds (vs.sepals > 4 mm long and corolla > 3.5 mm long in I. amnicola).

Ipomoea brasiliana
Fig. 2i Wood et al. (2020: 254) recognize two varieties (var.brasiliana and var.subincana) that was previously treat as distinct species.Both taxa occupy the same habitat and geographical range, and their characters are not always consistent, and intermediates can be found.Both are also part of a species complex that includes three others (I.

magna, I. calyptrata and I. veadeirosii).
It is endemic to Brazil, occurring in Caatinga and Cerrado areas of all states of the Northeast region and Minas Gerais (Wood et al. 2020) It can be easily identified by being an erect shrub (1-2 m tall) with hollow stems, sepals tomentose to glabrescent, and corolla longer than 6 cm and pubescent (at least in the bud).
It occurs from Mexico to Central America and is widely distributed in South America (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil, this subspecies can be considered an exotic naturalized species (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).It usually occurs in swampy areas and is often cultivated as an ornamental.O'Donell, Lilloa 26: 363, tab. 4 (1953).Type: BRAZIL.Ceará, Salvarão, A. Lofgren 158 (holotype S07-4422)  It can be recognized by having cordate leaves, glabrous above and sparsely pubescent below; many-flowered inflorescences; rounded to oblong, subequal sepals, the outer ones coriaceous and inner ones with scarious margins and cordate apices.

Ipomoea cearensis
It is endemic to Brazil (Wood et al. 2020).In Pernambuco, this species represents a new record and was found on sandy soils in the Caatinga domain.
It is widely distributed in South America (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil, it is found in all regions and phytogeographical domains (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated) and is widespread in Pernambuco state, frequently found in disturbed areas with anthropogenic influences.Ipomoea hederifolia is one of a few species with a red hypocrateriform corolla with exserted stamens -an unusual characteristic among species from Pernambuco state.It can be recognized by its entire to 3-lobate leaves and outer sepals with an apical awn.
It is a common pantropical weed (Wood et al. 2020) Ipomoea heptaphylla can be easily recognized by its compound leaves with 5 or 7 leaflets, small, solitary flowers < 2.5 cm long, and peduncles that are long, slender, and usually spirally twisted or coiled.Although the name I. wrightii has long been used for this species in the Americas, including Brazil, the oldest and correct name is actually I. heptaphylla Sweet, as typified by Verdcourt (1961: 13), the nomenclature clarified by Manitz (1983) and accepted by Wood et al. (2020).
It is widely distributed in the Americas and in the neotropics (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil it is found in Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated) but is not a common species in Pernambuco state, usually being found along forest borders in areas in a good state of conservation, or on rock outcrops in the Caatinga domain.Ipomoea hirsutissima can be easily distinguished from the other species of Ipomoea in Pernambuco state by being an erect herb less than 50 cm tall, and the whole plant densely pilose with long, spreading hairs.
Fig. 3d Selected It can be distinguished by its prostrate habit, oval-oblong, lanceolate, oblong, or ovate succulent leaves with emarginate apices, and a white to pale yellow corolla.
Widely distributed on sandy tropical beaches (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil it can be found on the atlantic coast in Atlantic Forest vegetation (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state, it occurs along dune crests and on the back slopes of dunes.It can be confused with I. nil (L.) Roth due to its outer sepals with elongated apices (being caudate in I. nil and long-attenuate in I. indica) but can be easily distinguished by its glabrous to softly pubescent sepals with short indumentum (vs.bristly hirsute with long, patent hairs in I. nil).

Ipomoea incarnata
Widely distributed throughout the Americas and in the tropics globally (Wood et al. 2020).In Pernambuco state, it is known from the borders of Atlantic Forest and in transition areas.In Caatinga, it is found on rock outcrops and in areas under human influence.Ipomoea longeramosa is the only species found in Pernambuco state with palmately lobed leaves and a yellow corolla, the tube purple inside.

Ipomoea longistaminea
Fig. 3h It is similar to Ipomoea brasiliana due to its equal, oblong, glabrous sepals, but can be distinguished by the leaves > 8 cm long (vs.ca. 4 cm long in I. brasiliana var.brasiliana), corolla ≥ 10 cm long (vs.ca.≤ 5 cm long) and by the long hairs on its seeds (vs. the glabrescent seeds of I. brasiliana).
It occurs in Paraguay and Brazil (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil, recorded until now from the states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Pernambuco in dry forest areas (Caatinga and Cerrado) (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).Only one record was found for Pernambuco, in an area of Caatinga vegetation.It can be recognized by having villous leaves with prominent veins underneath, the funnelform, pale yellow or white, rarely greenish corolla tube, with a wide limb, and exserted stamens.

Ipomoea marcellia
Endemic to the Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil (Wood et al. 2020;Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).Present only in wellpreserved areas, on sandy soils or rock outcrops.
Ipomoea mauritiana is widely distributed with a pantropical distribution (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil, it is found in the northern part of the country, in Amazon, Caatinga and Atlantic Forest areas (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state is found only in Fernando de Noronha Island.It is easily identified by its many-flowered inflorescences, sepals unequal, the outer ones acute, with gibbous bases (with nectaries).Wood et al. (2017) proposed a subspecies I. megapotamica subsp.velutina J.R.I.Wood & Scotland characterized by the abaxial surface of the leaves being densely pilose, the hairs adpressed, long, and conspicuous, while I. megapotamica subsp.megapotamica is characterized by the abaxial surface of the leaves being minutely puberulent to scabridulous.

Ipomoea megapotamica
It is widely distributed in the South Americna lowlands and is very variable (Wood et al. 2020;Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state, it is found on rock outcrops or in sandy soils in the Caatinga domain, and rarely in transitional zones.
Widely distributed in the tropics (Wood et al. 2020), but in Brazil is found only from Ceará to São Paulo in Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest vegetation (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state, it occurs in Atlantic Forest and transition areas.It can be easily recognized by the usually trilobed leaves, sepals with a long, caudate apex, hirsute at the base.Comparisons with I. indica were discussed in the comments for that species.
Pantropical in distribution, greatly aided by human dispersal (Wood et al. 2020).Found throughout the Brazil in all phytogeographical domains (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state it is found in Caatinga and Atlantic Forest domains.

28.
Ipomoea parasitica G. Don, Gen. Hist. iv. 275 (1838) It differs from all other Ipomoea species in Pernambuco state by having usually stems with fleshy spines, acute sepals sparsely puberulent to glabrescent, without awns, a finely sericeous corolla (easily seen in buds), and peduncles recurved and thicker in the fruit, with a persistent style on the capsule.Wood et al. (2015) suggested that the flowers are nocturnal, but we found open flowers in the morning.
Ipomoea parasitica is known from Mexico to Brazil, where it is found from Maranhão to Minas Gerais (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).An uncommon species in Pernambuco state that can mostly be found in the Atlantic Forest domain, transition areas between Atlantic Forest and Caatinga, and in disturbed areas of Caatinga.
Endemic to Brazil, apparently only found in the states of Pernambuco and Bahia, near the São Francisco River, growing on sandy soils in the Caatinga domain (Wood et al. 2020;Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).The distinction between Ipomoea pes-caprae and I. asarifolia was discussed in the notes for the latter species.
Widely distributed globally on tropical beaches (Wood et al. 2020).It is found on all Brazilian coast in humid environments (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state, it is restricted to beach zones, on frontal dunes, close to the water line.
Rodriguésia 74: e01152020.2023 It occurs from Mexico to Brazil (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil can be found in almost all states in humid environments (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state, it can be found in the Atlantic Forest domain, either along forest edges or in the forest canopy.O'Donell Lilloa 26: 380, tab. 12 (1953) In Pernambuco state, it is the only climber with elliptic to oblanceolate leaves.Also distinctive are the many-flowered inflorescences, borne on a short peduncle, the completely glabrous convex sepals, the outer slightly shorter than the inner ones.

Ipomoea pintoi
It is endemic to the Caatinga region of Brazil (Wood et al. 2020;Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state, it is found on rock outcrops and on sandy soils.Ipomoea pterocaulis can be easily recognized by its winged and glabrous stems, coriaceous sepals, and seeds glabrous with long white hairs restrict to the margins.Flora do Brazil website (Simão-Bianchini et al. 2016) treat I. pterocaulis as a synonym of I. chondrosepala and cited that this latter as occurring in Pernambuco, but we follow the monograph of the genus (Wood et al. 2020) that distinguishes the two species.
It resembles I. indica due to the mostly soft pubescence on the outer sepals, however the shape of their sepals are very distinct -the apex being acute to acuminate in I. purpurea, and long-tapering acuminate in I. indica; the former species also has sparse, long hairs at the base of the outer sepals.
Widely distributed as a cultivated species but native in America and abundant in dry areas of the Andes and Mexico (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil it is found in almost all states and phytogeographical domains (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state, it can be found in the Atlantic Forest, but is not a common species, and is probably introduced.It can be easily identified by having pinnate leaves and red, hipocrateriform corollas with exserted stamens and style.
It resembles I. grandifolia due to its small corolla (shorter than 3 cm) and convex (boatshaped) sepals but it can be recognized by having outer sepals obovate to oblong-elliptical (vs.lanceolate-acuminate in I. grandifolia), shorter than the inner ones (mostly subequal).

Ipomoea rubens
Globally distributed in freshwater habitats (Wood et al. 2020).In the Americas, it ranges from Mexico southward to Argentina.In Pernambuco state, it is only found along the São Francisco River in the Caatinga domain.Ipomoea sericophylla is recognized by its short, compact cymes with persistent filiform bracteoles, glands absent on sepals and acute, not mucronate, tomentose sepals.

Ipomoea setosa
It can be distinguished from other Ipomoea species in Pernambuco state, due to its hispid, bristly, blackish trichomes in all axils, outer sepals glabrous, and lobed leaves with irregularly dentate margins.
Distributed from Mexico to South America (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil it is distributed along the coast from Piauí to Santa Catarina (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state, it is usually found in the Atlantic Forest and transition zones, growing on rocky outcrops.There are some records in Caatinga vegetation, where it grows on sandy soils.This species was long known as I. tubata, but the name I. sidifolia was published earlier and should be used for this species (Delgado-Junior et al. 2017).It can be easily recognized by its hypocrateriform corolla, the outer sepals often recurved or reflexed, their margins often wavy-repand, with a gibbous base.

Ipomoea sidifolia
Endemic to Brazil (Wood et al. 2020;Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).An uncommon species in Pernambuco state, growing along the edges of Atlantic Forest fragments.It can be distinguished by having scarious sepals, the outer ones conspicuously smaller than the inner ones.
Ipomoea subalata can be recognized by the very large pubescent corolla (usually 9-10 cm long), the usually winged stems and the leaves puberulent adaxially.
It occurs in humid and dry environments of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.In Brazil is found in Caatinga (rocky outcrops) and Atlantic Forest areas of Bahia, Maranhão and Pernambuco states (Wood et al. 2020;Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).It can be recognized by having compound leaves divided into 5 elliptic leaflets with their margins revolute, few-flowered inflorescences, corolla 4-6 cm long, and sepals equal, acute, and glabrous.

Ipomoea subrevoluta
Known from the West Indies and South America (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil, it is found mostly in Cerrado, but also in Caatinga areas (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).It was found along the margins of the São Francisco River in Pernambuco state.It can easily be distinguished by having compound leaves with 5-7 linear to elliptic leaflets, and fimbriate sepals.

Ipomoea tiliacea
Distributed from Mexico to South America (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil is found mostly in humid and swamp environments (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).In Pernambuco state it is usually found along the edges of Atlantic Forests, often in disturbed areas.L. Sp. Pl. 1: 161 (1753) Ipomoea violacea is similar to I. alba in the large, hypocrateriform, white to pale yellow corollas.It can be distinguished by having odorless flowers, rounded sepals without awns, stems smooth and angular, and without fleshy spines.

Ipomoea violacea
Distributed along tropical and subtropical coasts (Wood et al. 2020).In Brazil, it had been known only from the Fernando de Noronha archipelago (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated).We recently collected it on an oceanfacing sandbank in Pernambuco state, and later found two records (ALCB) from Bahia state.

Cultivated species
1. Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.(1793: 465) is widely cultivated globally; Highly polymorphic, with leaves varying from entire to 3-lobate, and sepals frequently ciliate or rarely pubescent.It is classified in the section batatas, together with I. grandifolia and I. tiliacea.Can be recognized by having sepals convex (boat-shaped) with 3-5 raised veins, and corolla ca.4-7cm long.
2. Ipomoea horsfalliae Hook.(1834: pl.3315) was described from cultivation in England and is of unknown wild origin.In Brazil, it is found mostly in cultivation.Can be compared to other species with red, hipocrateriform corollas (I.hederifolia, I. longistaminea, and I. quamoclit Linnaeus).Can be easily distinguished by being the only species with leaves 5-7-lobate, undulate margins, and a large, deep red corolla.

Figure 1 -
Figure 1 -Map of Pernambuco state, Brazil.Twentythree species are widely distributed in the state, seven occur exclusively in the Atlantic Forest, three are restricted to the Atlantic coast, and 16 occur only in Caatinga vegetation.
. The name I. wrightii is still recognized in the Flora do Brazil website (Simão-Bianchini et al. 2016), but in this treatment we use the correct name I. heptaphylla.Ipomoea hirsutissima, I. cearensis and I. squamosa are reported here for the first time as occurring in Pernambuco state.
reduced I. piurensis to synonymy under the African species, I. acanthocarpa (Choisy) Aschers.& Schweinf.Molecular studies (Munoz-Rodriguez et al. 2019) corroborated this synonymization and indicate that I. acanthocarpa is of American origin and has colonized Africa by long-distance dispersal.
It can be found throughout Pernambuco state in both the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest domains, frequently in disturbed areas.
. In Pernambuco state, it is usually found in wellpreserved areas of the Caatinga and Cerrado domains growing on sandy soils and rock outcrops.Ipomoea magna was recently described, being considered a larger form of I. brasiliana (with larger flowers, more robust stems, and larger leaves).The distinctions between those species are discussed in the notes for I. magna.The distinctions between the varieties brasiliana and subincana are discussed under the comments of I. brasiliana var.subincana.Ipomoea brasiliana var.brasiliana can be distinguished by its outer sepals being glabrousglabrescent instead of velutinous; in the field it can be distinguished by having green sepals (vs.purple sepals in I. brasiliana var.subincana).
and widely distributed in Brazil (Simão-Bianchini et al., continuously updated) but uncommon in Pernambuco state, from where there are records from both Caatinga and Atlantic Forest areas.