4. Ipomoea hederifolia Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 925. 1759. (as hederfol.).
[W]
Scarlet creeper
Annuals. Stems twining. Leaf blades ± orbiculate, reniform, or 3-lobed, 20–150 × 20–150 mm, base ± cordate, surfaces glabrous or puberulent. Peduncles usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely hairy, hairs antrorse. Flowers diurnal; sepals elliptic to oblong, 4–4.5 mm, herbaceous, apex obtuse or truncate, outers with ± terminal corniform appendage, abaxial surface glabrous; corolla red to red-orange, salverform, 14–30 mm. 2n = 28, 30.
Flowering Oct–Mar. Disturbed sites, fence rows, thickets; 0–1800 m; Ariz., Fla., Ga., La., Tex.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America.
A report of Ipomoea hederifolia from Kansas was presumably based on a cultivated plant, and a report for Vermont (J. T. Atwood et al. 1973) was presumably based on waifs that did not persist. The report of I. hederifolia for New Mexico by W. C. Martin and C. R. Hutchins (1980) was based on misidentified specimens. Ipomoea hederifolia may be established in Virginia.
The names Ipomoea coccinea and Quamoclit coccinea (Linnaeus) Moench have been misapplied to plants of I. hederifolia.
