Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl.
var. obscura

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Vumba rd near Inn on the Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Cecil Kop Nature Reserve, Mutare.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa

Photo: Petra Ballings
Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa

Photo: Bart Wursten
Lake Kyle Recreational Park

Photo: Tomas Buruwate
Airstrip, Niassa Game Reserve.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Slopes of Mt Bunga, northwestern Gorongosa National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near western boundary, Zambezi National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
C8 about 82 km West of Katima Mulilo

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along Mberengwa - West Nicholson road

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Convolvulus obscurus L. Ipomoea fragilis Choisy Ipomoea fragilis Choisy var. pubescens Hall. f. Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl. var. fragilis (Choisy) Meeuse
Common names:	Wild petunia (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Perennial herb with trailing or twining stems up to 3 m long, growing from a narrow taproot. Leaves distinctly cordate (heart-shaped), 2.5-8.5 cm long, more or less pubescent on both surfaces; apex pointed; margin entire but wavy; petiole op to 11 cm long. Flowers pale apricot, yellow, cream or white, rarely with a purple centre. Capsule globose, tipped with the persistent style base.
Type location:	Java
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	obscura: indistinct, obscure
Habitat:	In open woodland, grassland, savannah, cultivated land and road sides.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Nov - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa, South Africa, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands and Seychelles. Also in tropical Asia, Australia (Queensland), Fiji, China and Taiwan.
FZ divisions:	N,SW,SE
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 171. (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 116 - 117. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 22. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 48. Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 334 - 335. as Ipomoea obscura var. fragilis (Includes a picture). Gonçalves, M.L. (1987). Convolvulaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(1) Pages 91 - 92. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 232. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 157. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 36. Maquet, P. (1985). Convolvulaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume III Page 251. (Includes a picture). Mwanga Mwanga, I.J.-C., Sosef, M.S.M. & Simoes, A.R.G., (2022). Convolvulaceae Flore d'Afrique Centrale Nouvelle Serie Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Pages 188 - 190. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 88. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 43. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 304 - 305. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 50. Shone, D.K. & Drummond, R.B. (1965). Poisonous Plants of Rhodesia Ministry of Agriculture, Rhodesia Page 59. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 204. Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. (1988). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region Struik, Cape Town Pages 126 - 127. as Ipomoea obscura var. fragilis (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Ipomoea obscura var. obscura:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Ipomoea obscura var. obscura
Flora of Caprivi: Ipomoea obscura var. obscura
Flora of the DRC: Ipomoea obscura var. obscura
Flora of Malawi: Ipomoea obscura var. obscura
Flora of Mozambique: Ipomoea obscura var. obscura
Flora of Rwanda: Ipomoea obscura var. obscura
Flora of Zambia: Ipomoea obscura var. obscura
Flora of Zimbabwe: Ipomoea obscura var. obscura

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Ipomoea obscura
African Plant Database: Ipomoea obscura
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Ipomoea obscura
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ipomoea obscura
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Ipomoea obscura
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Ipomoea obscura
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ipomoea obscura
JSTOR Plant Science: Ipomoea obscura
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Ipomoea obscura
Plants of the World Online: Ipomoea obscura
Tropicos: Ipomoea obscura
Wikipedia: Ipomoea obscura

Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl. var. obscura