Paleocene Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) from India with implications for an East Gondwana origin of Convolvulaceae

The morning glory family, Convolvulaceae, is globally important in medicine and food crops. The family has worldwide distribution in a variety of habitats; however, its fossil record is very poorly documented. The current fossil record suggests an origin in North America, which is in contrast to molecular data that indicate an East Gondwana origin. We report Ipomoea leaves from the late Paleocene (Thanetian; 58.7-55.8 million years ago) of India, which was a part of East Gondwana during this time. This is the earliest fossil record for both the family Convolvulaceae and the order Solanales. This suggests that the sister families Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae diverged before the Eocene in Gondwana-derived continents. The evidence presented here supports the conclusion from molecular phylogenetic analysis of an East Gondwana origin of Convolvulaceae.