New species of Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) from South America

The importance of discovering, describing and cataloguing poorly known species in herbarium collections is discussed. It is a spur to efforts at rediscovery and consequent conservation efforts. The problems faced in describing species from limited material are discussed and our methods and criteria in making a decision are described. Prospects for future novelties are briefly assessed. Fifteen new species are described and illustrated with line drawings and distribution maps: Ipomoea attenuata J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. cuscoensis J.R.I. Wood and P. Muñoz, I. dasycarpa J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. dolichopoda J.R.I. Wood and R. Degen, I. ensiformis J.R.I.Wood and Scotland, I. fasciculata J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. graminifolia J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. kraholandica J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. longirostra J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. revoluta J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. scopulina J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. uninervis J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. veadeirosii J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. velutinifolia J.R.I. Wood and Scotland, I. walteri J.R.I. Wood and Scotland. All species are narrow endemics except I. velutinifolia which is found in Brazil and Peru; of the others, 12 are found in Brazil and one each in Paraguay and Peru.