Lesser-Known Species (Ipomoea imperati) from the Convolvulaceae Family: First Record from the Manalkaadu Sand Dunes of Jaffna, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT Amarasekara, K.; Perera, C.; Yatawara, M., and Jayasiri, H.B., 2024. Lesser-known species (Ipomoea imperati) from the Convolvulaceae family: First record from the Manalkaadu sand dunes of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(4), 803–808. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Coastal sand dunes are dynamic and fragile ecosystems found along some sandy shorelines. They are typically supported by a wide variety of specialized floral and faunal life. Coastal sand dunes are especially common in temperate coastal areas but are less abundant in tropical or subtropical coasts. A comprehensive study of flora in the Manalkaadu sand dune ecosystem was completed from August 2022 to May 2023, using 50-m × 5-m belt transects. The study area was divided into nine distinct locations for systematic sampling. Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., a dicotyledonous flowering plant commonly known as fiddle-leaf morning-glory of the Convolvulaceae family, was recorded for the first time in the Manalkaadu sand dunes of the Northern Province in Sri Lanka during the study. Ipomoea imperati has smooth trailing stems that are covered with alternately arranged lanceolate, fleshy dark green leaves with a notched apex. Ipomoea imperati bloomed from September 2022 to March 2023 in the study area, and the funnel-shaped flowers were fused with white petals and yellow centers. In the area where it was discovered, the species withstood high substrate temperatures (about 29°C to 35°C), sand scouring, and moderate burial by accreted sand. Out of nine sampling locations, I. imperati was found in five locations. The plant density (two to six), plant percentage frequency (40% to 60%), Shannon Wiener diversity index (0.54 to 1.43), species evenness (0.50 to 0.90), and richness (2 to 5) were also analyzed. Thus, the density of I. imperati in five sampling locations was considered to be moderate, whereas the diversity was very low. It is designated as endangered in the National Red List 2020—Conservation Status of the Flora of Sri Lanka.