''Ipomoea'' () is the largest

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

in the plant family Convolvulaceae, with over 600

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

. It is a large and diverse group, with common names including morning glory,

water convolvulus ''Ipomoea aquatica'', widely known as water spinach, is a semi- aquatic, tropical plant grown as a vegetable for its tender shoots. ''I. aquatica'' is generally believed to have been first domesticated in Southeast Asia. It is widely cultivate ...

or water spinach,

sweet potato The sweet potato or sweetpotato (''Ipomoea batatas'') is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the Convolvulus, bindweed or morning glory family (biology), family, Convolvulaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting tuberous roots are used as a r ...

, bindweed, moonflower, etc. The genus occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and comprises annual and

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

liana A liana is a long- stemmed, woody vine that is rooted in the soil at ground level and uses trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in search of direct sunlight. The word ''liana'' does not refer to a ta ...

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s, and small

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

s; most of the species are twining

climbing plants A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselve ...

. 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. The name ''Ipomoea'' is derived from the Greek , (, ), meaning " woodworm", and (), meaning "resembling". It refers to their twining habit.

Uses and ecology

Human uses of ''Ipomoea'' include: *Most species have spectacular, colorful flowers, and are often grown as ornamentals, and a number of

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...

s have been developed. Their deep flowers attract large

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

- especially the Sphingidae, such as the pink-spotted hawk moth (''Agrius cingulata'') - or even

hummingbird Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. With about 361 species and 113 genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but the vast majority of the species are found in the tropics aro ...

s. *The genus includes

food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is inge ...

crops; the

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing ...

s of

es (''I. batatas)'' and the leaves of

water spinach ''Ipomoea aquatica'', widely known as water spinach, is a semi- aquatic, tropical plant grown as a vegetable for its tender shoots. ''I. aquatica'' is generally believed to have been first domesticated in Southeast Asia. It is widely cultivate ...

(''I. aquatica'') are commercially important food items, and have been for millennia. The sweet potato is one of the

Polynesia Polynesia () "many" and νῆσος () "island"), to, Polinisia; mi, Porinihia; haw, Polenekia; fj, Polinisia; sm, Polenisia; rar, Porinetia; ty, Pōrīnetia; tvl, Polenisia; tkl, Polenihia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of ...

n "

canoe plants One of the major human migration events was the maritime settlement of the islands of the Indo-Pacific by the Austronesian peoples, believed to have started from at least 5,500 to 4,000 BP (3500 to 2000 BCE). These migrations were accompani ...

", transplanted by settlers on islands throughout the Pacific. Water spinach is used all over eastern Asia and the warmer regions of the Americas as a key component of well-known dishes, such as '' canh chua rau muống'' (Mekong sour soup) or callaloo; its numerous local names attest to its popularity. Other species are used on a smaller scale, e.g. the whitestar potato ('' I. lacunosa'') traditionally eaten by some Native Americans, such as the

Chiricahua Chiricahua ( ) is a band of Apache Native Americans. Based in the Southern Plains and Southwestern United States, the Chiricahua (Tsokanende ) are related to other Apache groups: Ndendahe (Mogollon, Carrizaleño), Tchihende (Mimbreño), Sehende ...

Apaches, or the Australian bush potato ('' I. costata''). The peduncles or seed pods of Ipomoea muricata are consumed as a delicacy in the

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

state of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

. * Peonidin, an anthocyanidin potentially useful as a

food additive Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance taste, appearance, or other sensory qualities. Some additives have been used for centuries as part of an effort to preserve food, for example vinegar (pickling), salt (salt ...

, is present in significant quantities in the flowers of the 'Heavenly Blue'

. *Ipomoea sepiaria, is part of the Dashapushpam (Ten sacred flowers) in

and is known as "''Thiruthali''" in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...

. *Moon vine ('' I. alba'') sap was used for vulcanization of the

latex Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latexes are found in nature, but synthetic latexes are common as well. In nature, latex is found as a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants (angiosperms ...

of '' Castilla elastica'' (Panama rubber tree,

Nahuatl Nahuatl (; ), Aztec, or Mexicano is a language or, by some definitions, a group of languages of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Varieties of Nahuatl are spoken by about Nahua peoples, most of whom live mainly in Central Mexico and have smaller ...

: ''olicuáhuitl'') to

rubber Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Thailand, Malaysia, and ...

; 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. *The root called John the Conqueror in hoodoo and used in lucky and/or sexual

charm Charm may refer to: Social science * Charisma, a person or thing's pronounced ability to attract others * Superficial charm, flattery, telling people what they want to hear Science and technology * Charm quark, a type of elementary particle * Ch ...

s (though apparently not as a component of love potions, because it is a strong laxative if ingested) usually seems to be from '' I. jalapa''. The

testicle A testicle or testis (plural testes) is the male reproductive gland or gonad in all bilaterians, including humans. It is homologous to the female ovary. The functions of the testes are to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testostero ...

-like dried tubers are carried as

amulet An amulet, also known as a good luck charm or phylactery, is an object believed to confer protection upon its possessor. The word "amulet" comes from the Latin word amuletum, which Pliny's ''Natural History'' describes as "an object that protects ...

s and rubbed by the users to gain good luck in

gambling Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of value ("the stakes") on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three el ...

or flirting. As

Willie Dixon William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...

wrote, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, in his song "Rub My Root" (a

Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 April 30, 1983), known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago b ...

version is titled "My John the Conquer Root"):

:My pistol may snap, my mojo is frail :But I rub my root, my luck will never fail :When I rub my root, my John the Conquer root :Aww, you know there ain't nothin' she can do, Lord, :I rub my John the Conquer root

As medicine and entheogen

Humans use ''Ipomoea'' spp. for their content of medical and

psychoactive A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, psychoactive agent or psychotropic drug is a chemical substance, that changes functions of the nervous system, and results in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition or behavior. Th ...

compounds, mainly

alkaloid Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...

s. Some species are renowned for their properties in folk medicine and

herbalism Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern reme ...

; for example, Vera Cruz jalap ('' I. jalapa'') and Tampico jalap ('' I. simulans'') are used to produce

jalap Jalap is a cathartic drug, largely obsolete in Western medicine, consisting of the tuberous roots of ''Ipomoea purga'', a convolvulaceous plant growing on the eastern declivities of the Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico at an elevation of above se ...

, a

cathartic In medicine, a cathartic is a substance that ''accelerates'' defecation. This is similar to a laxative, which is a substance that ''eases'' defecation, usually by softening feces. It is possible for a substance to be both a laxative and a cathart ...

preparation accelerating the passage of stool. ''

Kiribadu ala ''Ipomoea mauritiana'' is a type of morning glory plant. Like the sweet potato, it belongs to the genus ''Ipomoea''. It grows as a vine. Its origins are uncertain, but it has been recorded in West Africa, including in Gambia and the riparian fo ...

'' (giant potato, ''I. mauritiana'') is one of the many ingredients of ''

chyawanprash Chyavanprash (), originally Chayavanaprasham, is a cooked mixture of sugar, honey, ghee, Indian gooseberry ( amla) jam, sesame oil, berries and various herbs and spices. It is prepared as per the instructions suggested in Ayurvedic texts. Chyavanp ...

'', the ancient

Ayurvedic Ayurveda () is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. The theory and practice of Ayurveda is pseudoscientific. Ayurveda is heavily practiced in India and Nepal, where around 80% of the population rep ...

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 potent entheogens. Seeds of Mexican morning glory (''tlitliltzin, I. tricolor'') were thus used by

Aztec The Aztecs () were a Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different Indigenous peoples of Mexico, ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those g ...

s and Zapotecs in

shaman Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiritu ...

istic and

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...

divination Divination (from Latin ''divinare'', 'to foresee, to foretell, to predict, to prophesy') is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic, standardized process or ritual. Used in various forms throughout histor ...

rituals, and at least by the former also as a poison, to give the victim a "

horror trip A bad trip (also known as challenging experiences, acute intoxication from hallucinogens, psychedelic crisis, or emergence phenomenon) is an acute adverse psychological reaction to classic hallucinogens. With proper screening, preparation, and su ...

" (see also

Aztec entheogenic complex The ancient Aztecs employed a variety of entheogenic plants and animals within their society. The various species have been identified through their depiction on murals, vases, and other objects. History There are many pieces of archaeologic ...

Beach moonflower ''Ipomoea violacea'' is a perennial species of ''Ipomoea'' that occurs throughout the world with the exception of the European continent. It is most commonly called beach moonflower or sea moonflower as the flowers open at night. Description The ...

(''I. violacea'') was also used thusly, and the

s called 'Heavenly Blue', touted today for their psychoactive properties, seem to represent an indeterminable assembly of hybrids of these two species. Ergin - Ergine

Ergoline derivatives ( lysergamides) are probably responsible for the entheogenic activity. Ergine (LSA),

isoergine Ergine, also known as d-lysergic acid amide (LSA) and d-lysergamide, is an ergoline alkaloid that occurs in various species of vines of the Convolvulaceae and some species of fungi. The psychedelic properties in the seeds of ololiuhqui, Hawaiia ...

, D-lysergic acid N-(α-hydroxyethyl)amide and

lysergol Lysergol is an alkaloid of the ergoline family that occurs as a minor constituent in some species of fungi (most within ''Claviceps''), and in the morning glory family of plants (Convolvulaceae), including the Psychedelics, dissociatives and deli ...

have been isolated from ''I. tricolor'', ''I. violacea'' and/or purple morning glory (''I. purpurea''); although these are often assumed to be the cause of the plants' effects, this is not supported by scientific studies, which show although they are

, they are not notably hallucinogenic.

Alexander Shulgin Alexander Theodore "Sasha" Shulgin (June 17, 1925 – June 2, 2014) was an American medicinal chemist, biochemist, organic chemist, pharmacologist, psychopharmacologist, and author. He is credited with introducing 3,4-methylenedioxymethamph ...

in ''

TiHKAL ''TIHKAL: The Continuation'' is a 1997 book written by Alexander Shulgin and Ann Shulgin about a family of psychoactive drugs known as tryptamines. A sequel to '' PIHKAL: A Chemical Love Story'', ''TIHKAL'' is an acronym that stands for "Tryp ...

'' suggests ergonovine is responsible, instead. It has verified psychoactive properties, though as yet other undiscovered lysergamides possibly are present in the seeds. Though most often noted as "recreational" drugs, the lysergamides are also of medical importance. Ergonovine enhances the action of

oxytocin Oxytocin (Oxt or OT) is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide normally produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary. It plays a role in social bonding, reproduction, childbirth, and the period after childbirth. Oxytocin ...

, used to still ''

post partum The postpartum (or postnatal) period begins after childbirth and is typically considered to end within 6 weeks as the mother's body, including hormone levels and uterus size, returns to a non-pregnant state. The terms puerperium, puerperal perio ...

'' bleeding. Ergine induces drowsiness and a relaxed state, so might be useful in treating

anxiety disorder Anxiety disorders are a cluster of mental disorders characterized by significant and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and fear such that a person's social, occupational, and personal function are significantly impaired. Anxiety may cause physi ...

. Whether ''Ipomoea'' species are useful sources of these compounds remains to be determined. In any case, in some jurisdictions, certain ''Ipomoea'' are regulated, e.g. by the

Louisiana State Act 159 Signed into law June 28, 2005, and effective August 8, 2005, Louisiana State Act No 159 found in, Louisiana RS 40:989.1, outlawed the cultivation, possession or sale of 40 named plants defined as hallucinogenic in the state of Louisiana, US. House ...

, which bans cultivation of ''I. violacea'' except for ornamental purposes. Koeh-077

Pests and diseases

Many

herbivore A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthpart ...

s avoid morning glories such as ''Ipomoea'', as the high alkaloid content makes these plants unpalatable, if not

toxic Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a subst ...

. Nonetheless, ''Ipomoea'' species are used as

food plants A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponics ...

by the

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...

s of certain

(butterflies and moths). For a selection of diseases of the sweet potato (''I. batatas''), many of which also infect other members of this genus, see

List of sweet potato diseases This article is a list of diseases of the sweet potato, (''Ipomoea batatas''). Bacterial diseases Fungal diseases Nematodes, parasitic Viral and viroid diseases References Common Names of Diseases, The American Phytopathological Soc ...

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 Fitness (often denoted w or ω in population genetics models) is the quantitative representation of individual reproductive success. It is also equal to the average contribution to the gene pool of the next generation, made by the same individua ...

Gallery

File:MorningGlory5.jpg, Whitestar potato ('' I. lacunosa'') File:Ipomoea carnea.jpg, ''

Ipomoea carnea ''Ipomoea carnea'', the pink morning glory, is a species of morning glory that grows as a bush. This flowering plant has heart-shaped leaves that are a rich green and long. It can be easily grown from seeds. These seeds are toxic and it can be h ...

'' in Brazil File:Ipomoea-barbatisepala.jpg, '' I. barbatisepala'' File:Ipomoea cairica (2).jpg, ''

Ipomoea cairica ''Ipomoea cairica'' is a vining, herbaceous, perennial plant with palmate leaves and large, showy white to lavender flowers. A species of morning glory, it has many common names, including mile-a-minute vine, Messina creeper, Cairo morning glo ...

'' File:Wild Morning Glory -- Ipomoea cordatotriloba.jpg, ''

Ipomoea cordatotriloba ''Ipomoea cordatotriloba'' is a species of morning glory native to the southeastern United States, Mexico, and South America. Its common names include tievine and cotton morning glory.Ipomoea indica ''Ipomoea indica'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae, known by several common names, including blue morning glory, oceanblue morning glory, ''koali awa'', and blue dawn flower. It bears heart-shaped or 3-lobed leaves an ...

'' File:Ipomoea macrantha.jpg, ''

Ipomoea macrantha ''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, moonfl ...

'' File:Ipomoea marginata in Hyderabad W IMG 4988.jpg, ''

Ipomoea marginata ''Ipomoea sagittifolia'' is a species of morning glory in the genus ''Ipomoea''. It is native to Africa, India, the Malay Archipelago, and Australia. It was erroneously reported to occur in Taiwan. Physiology Alkaloids It is used in traditional ...

'' File:Ipomoea mauritiana-IMG 5508.jpg, ''

Ipomoea mauritiana ''Ipomoea mauritiana'' is a type of morning glory plant. Like the sweet potato, it belongs to the genus ''Ipomoea''. It grows as a vine. Its origins are uncertain, but it has been recorded in West Africa, including in Gambia and the riparian fo ...

'' File:Ipomoea nil.jpg, Purple cultivar of ''

Ipomoea indica ''Ipomoea indica'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae, known by several common names, including blue morning glory, oceanblue morning glory, ''koali awa'', and blue dawn flower. It bears heart-shaped or 3-lobed leaves an ...

'' File:Starr 070111-3107 Ipomoea obscura.jpg, ''

Ipomoea obscura ''Ipomoea obscura'', the obscure morning glory or small white morning glory, is a species of the genus ''Ipomoea''. It is native to parts of Africa, Asia, and certain Pacific Islands, and it is present in other areas as an introduced species ...

'' File:Wild Potato Vine - Ipomoea pandurata, Meadowood Farm SRMA, Mason Neck, Virginia.jpg, ''

Ipomoea pandurata ''Ipomoea pandurata'', known as man of the earth, wild potato vine, manroot, wild sweet potato, and wild rhubarb, is a species of herbaceous perennial vine native to North America. It is a twining plant of woodland verges and rough places with ...

'' File:Ipomoea pes-caprae - flower view 01.jpg, '' Ipomoea pes-caprae'' in China File:Ipomoea purpurea (Convolvulaceae) flower 1.JPG, ''

Ipomoea purpurea ''Ipomoea purpurea'', the common morning-glory, tall morning-glory, or purple morning glory, is a species in the genus ''Ipomoea'', native to Mexico and Central America. Description Like all morning glories, the plant entwines itself around stru ...

'' File:Saltmarsh Morning-glory (Ipomoea sagittata) - Sanibel Island, FL, USA 03.jpg, ''

Ipomoea sagittata ''Ipomoea sagittata'', commonly called the saltmarsh morning glory, is a species of flowering plant in the morning glory family. It is native to the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, als ...

'' in Florida File:Ипомея. Восточная Сибирь.jpg, ''

'', Eastern Siberia

References

External links

*
Fine Gardening: Morning glories and more
{{Authority control Convolvulaceae genera Medicinal plants Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Taxa described in 1753