''Ipomoea leptophylla'', the bush morning glory, bush moonflower or manroot, is a

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 ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the bindweed

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

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 ...

. It belongs to the

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 ...

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 ...

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, moonfl ...

'' and is native to the Great Plains of western North America. It has a large

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 ...

. The Latin specific epithet ''leptophylla'' means "fine- or slender-leaved."

Description

''Ipomoea leptophylla'' is a long lived

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 ...

. All parts of the plant are killed by the first frost and new shoots in the spring delay emergence until quite late. The plant grows a large spindle shaped

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 ...

that is found at least 50 centimeters under the soil surface, this tuber can be 50 centimeters in diameter and weigh as much as 6 kilograms. From the top of the tuber as many as six stems will emerge within the same quarter of a square meter. The stems are smooth in texture without hairs and may stand straight up or trail a short distance on the ground and about one meter in length. The leaves are narrow and have smooth edges without teeth and come to a sharp point. The flowering period of ''Ipomoea leptophylla'' can be from May to July. The flowers are large, funnel shaped, and purple to pink in color. One to four flowers will be attached together by short stems (

pedicels In botany, a pedicel is a stem that attaches a single flower to the inflorescence. Such inflorescences are described as ''pedicellate''. Description Pedicel refers to a structure connecting a single flower to its inflorescence. In the absenc ...

) to each flowering stem ( peduncle). The diameter of the flowers is 4.5–7 cm and the length of the tube is 5.5–7 cm long. There are extra floral nectaries located at base of the pedicels. Ipomoealeptophylla1

The seeds are large, each weighing up to 0.1 gram and have a fine downy surface. They are oblong and measure 10 mm long and 4 mm wide.

Habitat and range

''Ipomoea leptophylla'' grows in sandy locations in the American great plains and is the only widespread prairie species in genus ''Ipomoea'', though others are adapted to grassland habitats. They are found from Texas in the south throughout the plains states to South Dakota and Montana in the north.

Cultivation

The bush morning glory is occasionally grown in

xeric Deserts and xeric shrublands are a biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Deserts and xeric (ancient Greek xērós, “dry") shrublands form the largest terrestrial biome, covering 19% of Earth's land surface area. Ecoregions in this h ...

native plant In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often popularised as "with no human intervention") during history. The term is equ ...

gardens for its ample supply of flowers and long blooming season. Plants are generally grown from seed as the large root can only be moved when dormant. Seeds require cold, moist stratification or to be mechanically nicked or filed and then soaked overnight in water before they will germinate. As with the plants seedlings will only emerge once the soil is very warm and will be killed by any frost.

References

leptophylla Flora of Colorado Flora of Kansas Flora of Montana Flora of Nebraska Flora of Oklahoma Flora of South Dakota Flora of Wyoming Flora of the South-Central United States {{Solanales-stub