Description

• Ipomoea microsepala is a robust, perennial climbing vine in the morning-glory family (Convolvulaceae), with somewhat woody stems that may reach several metres in length. Its stems are branched and may be smooth or sparsely covered with stiff hairs. The leaves are oval to broadly ovate, with heart-shaped bases and pointed tips. Its yellow, funnel-shaped flowers grow in clusters of up to about 14 blooms. The fruit is a small, rounded brown capsule containing several brown seeds covered in fine hairs. It is also known by the Spanish common name príncipe amarillo.

Range

• Ipomoea microsepala is native to Mexico and Guatemala. In Mexico, it occurs in several states, including Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, Veracruz, and Oaxaca. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.

Habitat

• It grows in seasonally dry tropical forests, scrub, and transitional vegetation between tropical deciduous forest and oak woodland. It is often found along roadsides and paths in disturbed areas, climbing through nearby vegetation. It has been recorded at elevations of approximately 50–1,200 metres and typically flowers from September to December.