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Ipomoea indica (Burm.) Merr.
| Family Name: | Convolvulaceae |
| Synonyms: | Convolvulus acuminatus |
| Common Name: | Blue Morning Glory, Blue Dawn Flower, Dunny Creeper |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Pantropical |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal, Temperate |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Climber up to 15 m long with typically twining stems, but sometimes adopts a scrambling or creeping growth habit. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are tri-lobed or heart-shaped (5-18 cm long, 3.5-16 cm wide). They occur in alternate leaf arrangement (one leaf per point of attachment on alternating sides of the stem). |
| Stems | Young stems are softly hairy. |
| Flowers | Large, funnel-shaped flowers are blue to violet with a pink to pinkish white tube (7-10 cm wide, 5-10 cm long). They occur in clusters of 2 to 12 in the leaf axils. The sepals (leaf-like structures that make up the outermost layer of the flower) are long and narrow (14-22 mm long). |
| Fruit | Dry, dehiscent fruits known as capsules are round and papery. They are seldom produced, but when they do occur, the seeds are typically not viable. |
| Habitat | It is found on moist soils in a variety of habitats, such as riverbanks, distubed rainforests, coastal dunes and roadsides. This species can grow invasively, especially in degraded natural areas. It is considered a noxious weed in some parts of South Africa. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental and spreads through rooting of discarded stem pieces. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Palmate) |
| Foliar Venation | Palmate |
| Foliar Margin | Palmately Lobed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Cordate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, Blue |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Funnelform / Funnel-shaped |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Papery |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black, Brown |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5), Moderate (6-10) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32252 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6660 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
