Bejuco colorado "red vine" (Ipomoea repanda Jacquin) is known to be native to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is possibly present on other Caribbean islands as well. The perennial vine is found in wet montane forests usually on limestone derived soils. The US Geological Survey reports it occurring at elevations between 500 and 1100 meters in Puerto Rico. Although a member of the Convolvulaceae, it looks nothing like the traditional morning-glory.

Bejuco colorado [bay hu' co co lo rah' do] forms a large underground tuber. The woody vine climbs by twining around supports. The flowers are borne in compound umbels from June through January in its native habitat. This beautiful vine has not entered into the horticultural trade; either it needs very specific conditions or is otherwise unsuitable for cultivation. It apparently is not a common species.

Ipomoea repanda should not be confused with the red-flowering Ipomoea microdactyla Grisebach, also called bejuco colorado. Ipomoea microdactyla is an endangered species known only from a few specimens found in Dade County, Florida.

The Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida has photographs of Ipomoea microdactyla. To view photographs of this bejuco colorado, click on the link: http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/main.asp?plantID=2233

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