''Ipomoea'' () is the largest

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

in the plant family

Convolvulaceae Convolvulaceae (), commonly called the bindweeds or morning glories, is a family of about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species. These species are primarily herbaceous vines, but also include trees, shrubs and herbs. The tubers of several spe ...

, 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 Morning glory (also written as morning-glory) is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, whose current taxonomy and systematics are in flux. Morning glory species belong to many genera, some of ...

, water convolvulus or water spinach, sweet potato,

bindweed Bindweed may refer to: * Some species of Convolvulaceae (bindweed family or morning glory family): ** '' Calystegia'' (bindweed, false bindweed, morning glory), a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants ** ''Convolvulus'' (bindweed, morning ...

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

annual Annual may refer to: *Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year ** Yearbook ** Literary annual *Annual plant *Annual report *Annual giving *Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco *Annuals (band), ...

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 wid ...

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent wood, woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennial plant, perennials, and nearly all Annual plant, annuals and Biennial plant, biennials. Definition ...

s, lianas, shrubs, 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 themselv ...

. 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 Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

"good" and , , , "night") are called moonflowers. The name ''Ipomoea'' is derived from the Greek , (, ), meaning "

woodworm A woodworm is the wood-eating larva of many species of beetle. It is also a generic description given to the infestation of a wooden item (normally part of a dwelling or the furniture in it) by these larvae. Types of woodworm Woodboring beetle ...

", 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 Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...

, 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 - especially the

Sphingidae The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as “hornworms”; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, but ...

, such as the pink-spotted hawk moth (''Agrius cingulata'') - or even hummingbirds. *The genus includes food 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 growin ...

s of sweet potatoes (''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 Callaloo (many spelling variants, such as kallaloo, calaloo, calalloo, calaloux or callalloo; ) is a popular Caribbean vegetable dish. There are many variants across the Caribbean, depending on the availability of local vegetables. The main in ...

; 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

Apaches The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...

, or the Australian bush potato ('' I. costata''). The peduncles or seed pods of

Ipomoea muricata ''Ipomoea muricata'', also called lavender moonvine, is a climbing vine in the genus ''Ipomoea'', the same genus that contains the various morning glory species and sweet potato. It is native to Central America, but now distributed widely across ...

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 Peonidin is an O-methylated anthocyanidin derived from Cyanidin, and a primary plant pigment. Peonidin gives purplish-red hues to flowers such as the peony, from which it takes its name, and roses. It is also present in some blue flowers, such as ...

, an

anthocyanidin Anthocyanidins are common plant pigments, the sugar-free counterparts of anthocyanins. They are based on the flavylium cation, an oxonium ion, with various groups substituted for its hydrogen atoms. They generally change color from red through ...

potentially useful as a food additive, 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 languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...

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

vulcanization Vulcanization (British: Vulcanisation) is a range of processes for hardening rubbers. The term originally referred exclusively to the treatment of natural rubber with sulfur, which remains the most common practice. It has also grown to includ ...

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 ''Castilla elastica'', the Panama rubber tree, is a tree native to the tropical areas of Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. It was the principal source of latex among the Mesoamerican peoples in pre-Columbian times. The latex g ...

'' (Panama rubber tree, Nahuatl: ''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, an ...

; 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

Olmec The Olmecs () were the earliest known major Mesoamerican civilization. Following a progressive development in Soconusco, they occupied the tropical lowlands of the modern-day Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. It has been speculated that ...

s produced the balls used in the

Mesoamerican ballgame The Mesoamerican ballgame ( nah, ōllamalīztli, , myn, pitz) was a sport with ritual associations played since at least 1650 BC by the pre-Columbian people of Ancient Mesoamerica. The sport had different versions in different places during ...

. *The root called

John the Conqueror John the Conqueror, also known as High John de Conqueror, John, Jack, and many other folk variants, is a folk hero from African-American folklore. He is associated with the roots of '' Ipomoea purga'', the John the Conqueror root or John the Co ...

in hoodoo and used in lucky and/or sexual charms (though apparently not as a component of love potions, because it is a strong

laxative Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...

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 testoste ...

-like dried tubers are carried as amulets 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 ...

flirting Flirting or coquetry is a social and sexual behavior involving spoken or written communication, as well as body language. It is either to suggest interest in a deeper relationship with the other person or, if done playfully, for amusement. I ...

. As Willie Dixon 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 ...

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 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 Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within the folk beliefs of various societies, including indigenous peoples, before the ...

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 ...

, 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 catha ...

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. Chyavan ...

'', 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 potent

entheogen Entheogens are psychoactive substances that induce alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior for the purposes of engendering spiritual development or otherwiseRätsch, Christian, ''The Encyclopedia of Psychoac ...

s. 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 ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl ...

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 spir ...

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 partic ...

ly divination rituals, and at least by the former also as a poison, to give the victim a " horror trip" (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 (''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 Ergoline is a chemical compound whose structural skeleton is contained in a variety of alkaloids, referred to as ergoline derivatives or ergoline alkaloids. Ergoline alkaloids, one being ergine, were initially characterized in ergot. Some of thes ...

derivatives (

lysergamides Amides of lysergic acid are collectively known as lysergamides, and include a number of compounds with potent agonist and/or antagonist activity at various serotonin and dopamine Receptor (biochemistry), receptors. See also * Ergoline * Brom ...

) are probably responsible for the entheogenic activity.

Ergine 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, Hawai ...

(LSA), isoergine, 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 psychoactive, they are not notably

hallucinogen Hallucinogens are a large, diverse class of psychoactive drugs that can produce altered states of consciousness characterized by major alterations in thought, mood, and perception as well as other changes. Most hallucinogens can be categorize ...

ic. Alexander Shulgin 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 "Trypt ...

'' suggests

ergonovine Ergometrine, also known as ergonovine and sold under the brand names Ergotrate, Ergostat, and Syntometrine among others, is a medication used to cause contractions of the uterus to treat heavy vaginal bleeding after childbirth. It can be used ei ...

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, 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. 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 herbivores 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 subs ...

. Nonetheless, ''Ipomoea'' species are used as food plants by the caterpillars of certain Lepidoptera (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.

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.

Gallery

File:MorningGlory5.jpg, Whitestar potato ('' I. lacunosa'') File:Ipomoea carnea.jpg, '' Ipomoea carnea'' 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'' File:Starr 050530-7136 Ipomoea indica.jpg, ''

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'' File:Ipomoea marginata in Hyderabad W IMG 4988.jpg, '' Ipomoea marginata'' File:Ipomoea mauritiana-IMG 5508.jpg, '' Ipomoea mauritiana'' File:Ipomoea nil.jpg, Purple cultivar of ''

'' File:Starr 070111-3107 Ipomoea obscura.jpg, '' Ipomoea obscura'' File:Wild Potato Vine - Ipomoea pandurata, Meadowood Farm SRMA, Mason Neck, Virginia.jpg, '' Ipomoea pandurata'' File:Ipomoea pes-caprae - flower view 01.jpg, ''

Ipomoea pes-caprae ''Ipomoea pes-caprae'', also known as bayhops, bay-hops, beach morning glory or goat's foot, is a common pantropical creeping vine belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. It grows on the upper parts of beaches and endures salted air. It is one ...

'' 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