Cardinal climber

Annuals. Stems twining. Leaf blades deltate-ovate to oblong-ovate, 10–90 × 5–45 mm over­all, palmati-pinnate, base cor­date to ± truncate, lobes 7–11+, lanceolate, lance-linear, or lin­ear, proximal ones sometimes again lobed, terminal lobe broadest, surfaces glabrous. Peduncles glabrous. Flowers diurnal; sepals elliptic to oblong, 4–8 mm, ± chartaceous, apex obtuse, mucronate, surfaces glabrous; corolla red, salverform, 40–50 mm. 2n = 58.

Flowering Jun–Oct. Abandoned plantings, disturbed sites; 0–300 m; Fla., Mich., N.Y., Tex.

According to J. E. Eckenwalder (1986), the name Ipomoea × multifida Rafinesque (as species) refers to diploid hybrid plants resulting from crosses between I. coccinea and I. quamoclit; I. sloteri refers to allo­tetraploid plants derived from diploid hybrids between I. coccinea and I. quamoclit.