Ipomoea - Moonflower

The genus Ipomoea is the largest in the family Convolvulaceae, with over 500 species. Most of these are called "morning glories", but this can refer to related genera also. Those formerly separated in Calonyction are called "moonflowers". The genus occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants, lianas, shrubs and small trees; most of the species are twining climbing plants.


Uses and ecology
Human use of Ipomoea is threefold: First, most species have spectacular, colorful flowers and are often grown as ornamental plants, and a number of cultivars have been developed. Their deep flowers attract large Lepidoptera - especially Sphingidae such as the Pink-spotted Hawkmoth (Agrius cingulata), or even hummingbirds.


Selected species
Ipomoea indica is a species of morning glory known by several common names, including oceanblue morning glory, blue morning glory, koali awa, and blue dawn flower. It is a tender perennial vine native to Hawaii and the New World tropics, but it can be found throughout the tropical and warm areas of the world as an introduced species. It has become an invasive species in both Australia and New Zealand. It is cultivated in gardens and greenhouses for its large blue flowers.

Ipomoea abrupta is a species of plant in the Convolvulaceae family of the genus Ipomoea. It is endemic to Western Australia.

Ipomoea cordatotriloba is a species of morning glory. It is native to the southeast United States.

Ipomoea hederacea (ivy-leaved morning glory) is a plant in the bindweed family, Convolvulaceae.

Ipomoea nil is a species of morning glory known by several common names, including white-edge morning glory, ivy morning glory, and Japanese morning glory. It is native to most of the tropical world and it has been introduced widely. It is cultivated as an attractive ornamental plant in many places, and the descendents of garden escapees now grow wild. This is a climbing annual herb with three-pointed leaves 3 to 8 centimeters long. The flowers are several centimeters wide and appear in any shade of blue or pink, often with white stripes or edges or blends of colors.

Ipomoea triloba is a species of morning glory known by several common names, including littlebell and Aiea morning glory. It is native to the tropical Americas but it is widespread in warm areas of the world where it is an introduced species and often a noxious weed. This is a fast-growing vining annual herb producing long, thin stems with ivylike petioled, heart-shaped leaves 3 to 6 centimeters long. The leaves sometimes, but not always, have three lobes. The vines produce tubular bell-shaped flowers each about two centimeters long. They are quite variable in color, in shades of pink, red or lavender with or without white markings.

Ipomoea pulcherrima

Ipomoea alba - Moonflower

Author KENPEI. Under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.1 Japan License
 

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