style simple; stigma globose or with 2 or 3 globose lobes; capsule 1- to several- 

 seeded, variously dehiscent or (a few species) indehiscent. 



Over 600 species (often referred to 6 to 10 unsatisfactorily distinguishable gen- 

 era), warm-temperate and tropical regions of both hemispheres. (Incl. Batatas, 

 Calonyction, Exogonium, Merremia, Mina, Operculina, Pharbitis, Quamoclit, 

 Turbina. ) 



Most of the species in this genus are weedy in character, and many are essenti- 

 ally ubiquitous. It is quite possible that additional species in our region should be 

 included here. The seeds of some species are eaten by game birds. The genus 

 includes the sweet potato (/. Batatas) as well as ornamentals and medicinal plants. 



1. Corolla more or less strongly salverform, the long narrow tube only slightly 

 widened to near or above the middle, rather abruptly flaring near 

 summit, at mid-level 3-7 mm. in diameter, the maximum breadth 

 at summit (corolla rim) 5 to 20 times as great as mid-level 

 diameter (2) 



1. Corolla funnelform to campanulate, with short to rather long tube gradually 



expanding from below middle (but often more sharply flaring near 

 summit), at mid-level 4-20 mm. in diameter, the maximum breadth 

 at summit (corolla rim) 2 to 5 times as great as mid-level diameter 

 (3) 



2(1). Calyx (5-) 6-8 mm. long 1. /. coccinea. 



2. Calyx 4-4.5 mm. long 2. /. hederifolia. 



3(1). Pedicels and peduncles with reflexed hairs (sometimes also some spreading 

 ones) (4) 



3. Pedicels and peduncles glabrous or with widely spreading to ascending hairs 



or soft spreading to slightly down-curved prickles (5) 



4(3). Sepals soft-pilose or pubescent on back with slender hairs 



3. /. acuminata. 



4. Sepals hispid-pilose on back, the hairs (at least those toward pedicel) with 



swollen bases 4. /. hederacea. 



5(3). Anthers large and strongly spirally twisted when flowers have opened 



13. /. sinuata. 



5. Anthers large or small, straight or merely slightly curved (6) 



6(5). Leaf blades divided to base, the lobes or leaflets narrow 5. /. Wrightii. 



6. Leaf blades entire or with broad or irregular lobes, not divided to base (7) 



7(6). Stems rooting at nodes, long-creeping (8) 



7. Stems not rooting at nodes, trailing to twining and climbing (9) 



8(7). Leaf blades mostly irregularly lobed; sepals oblong-lanceolate, much longer 

 than wide 6. /. stolonifera. 



8. Leaf blades entire except for notched apex; sepals suborbicular, nearly as wide 



as long or wider 7. /. Pes-caprae. 



9(7). Sepals about equal in length (10) 



9. Sepals markedly unequal in length, the outer three fourths to five sixths as 



long as the inner (13) 



10(9). Sepals suborbicular, obtuse to broadly rounded at apex (sometimes very 

 inconspicuously notched or mucronate) 10. /. anmicola. 



10. Sepals elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, strongly mucronate or acute to acuminate 



at apex (11) 



11(10). Sepals 15-22 mm. long in flower; corolla 5.5-9 cm. long 



3. /. acuminata. 



11. Sepals 6-13 mm. long in flower; corolla 1.8-5.5 cm. long (12) 



1354 



