Ipomoea

Ipomoea () is the largest genus in the plant family Convolvulaceae, with over 600 species. It is a large and diverse group, with common names including morning glory, water Convolvulus or water spinach, sweet potato, bindweed, moonflower, etc. 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.

Description Vegetative characteristics Ipomoea are annual or perennialIpomoea in Flora of North America @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2026, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=116482 twining, prostrate or erect,Ipomoea in Flora of China @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2026, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=116482 herbs,Ipomoea Linnaeus. (n.d.). Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN). Retrieved March 21, 2026, from https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/1287 shrubs, lianas,Western Australian Herbarium & Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. (n.d.). Ipomoea L. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Retrieved March 21, 2026, from https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/21958 or trees usually with twining or trailing stems bearing simple, or rarely compound leaves.Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. (n.d.). Ipomoea. VicFlora Flora of Victoria. Retrieved March 21, 2026, from https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/aeb2e53b-1878-4e33-ad72-6b01b459221b Generative characteristics The few- to many-flowered, axillary, solitary or cymose inflorescences bear small to large, blue, red, pink, purple, white, orange, or yellow, pentamerous flowers.

Taxonomy The genus Ipomoea was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It has 642 accepted species. The type species is Ipomoea pes-tigridis Ipomoea L. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved March 21, 2026, from https://www.ipni.org/n/325789-2Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Ipomoea L. Tropicos. Retrieved March 21, 2026, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40031392 Within the family Convolvulaceae, it is placed in the tribe Ipomoeeae. Common names Their most widespread common name is morning glory, but some species in related genera bear that same common name and some Ipomoea species are known by different common names. Those formerly separated in Calonyction (Greek "good" and , , , "night") are called moonflowers. Etymology The name Ipomoea is derived from the Ancient Greek , meaning , and (), meaning "resembling". It refers to their twining habit.

Ecology Pollination The species of Ipomoea interfere with each other's pollination. Pollen from different species compete in each other's reproductive processes, imposing a fitness cost.

Uses Ipomoea sepiaria is part of the Dashapushpam (Ten sacred flowers) in Kerala and is known as "Thiruthali" in Malayalam.

Moon vine (I. alba) sap was used for vulcanization of the latex of Castilla elastica (Panama rubber tree, Nahuatl: olicuáhuitl) to rubber; as it happens, the rubber tree seems well-suited for the vine to twine upon, and the two species are often found together. As early as 1600 BCE, the Olmecs produced the balls used in the Mesoamerican ballgame.Massachusetts Institute of Technology Summer Institute in Materials Science and Material Culture: Rubber Processing in Ancient Mesoamerica. Retrieved 2007-NOV-22.

As medicine and entheogen

Humans use Ipomoea spp. for their content of medical and psychoactive compounds, mainly alkaloids. Some species are renowned for their properties in folk medicine and herbalism; for example, Vera Cruz jalap (I. jalapa) and Tampico jalap (I. simulans) are used to produce jalap, a cathartic preparation accelerating the passage of stool. Kiribadu ala (giant potato, I. mauritiana) is one of the many ingredients of chyawanprash, the ancient Ayurvedic tonic called "the elixir of life" for its wide-ranging properties.

The leaves of I. batatas are eaten as a vegetable, and have been shown to slow oxygenation of LDLs, with some similar potential health benefits to green tea and grape polyphenols.

Other species were and still are used as potentially potent entheogens. Seeds of Mexican morning glory (tlitliltzin, I. tricolor) were thus used by Aztecs and Zapotecs in shamanistic and priestly divination rituals, and at least by the former also as a poison, to give the victim a "horror trip" (see also Aztec entheogenic complex). Beach moonflower (I. violacea) was also used thusly, and the cultivars called 'Heavenly Blue', touted today for their psychoactive properties, seem to represent an indeterminable assembly of hybrids of these two species. Ergoline alkaloids occur in several Ipomoea species whose seeds host heritable Periglandula fungi. Seeds of I. tricolour and I. purpurea commonly contain lysergamides such as ergine (D- lysergic acid amide, LSA) and its epimer isoergine; other reported alkaloids include lysergol, lysergic acid hydroxyethylamide (LSH), and ergometrine (ergonovine)

Human data indicate that LSA produces comparatively mild psychedelic effects with prominent sedation; adverse effects frequently include nausea and vasoconstriction.

Albert Hofmann and colleagues first isolated lysergamides from I. corymbosa and I. violacea seeds and reported early human observations.

Analytical studies of Ipomoea seeds have generally found ergometrine at lower concentrations than LSA, and note that LSH is labile and can rearrange to LSA during extraction or storage.

The subjective effects of morning glory seeds vary with species, alkaloid profile, preparation and dose.

Though most often noted as "recreational" drugs, the lysergamides are also of medical importance.

Gallery

Ipomoea

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