![Morningglory-1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Morningglory-1.jpg)
Morning glory (also written as morning-glory
) is the common name for over 1,000
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 ...
of
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 ...
s in the 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 spec ...
, whose current taxonomy and systematics are in flux. Morning glory species belong to many
genera
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 nomenclat ...
, some of which are:
* ''
Argyreia
''Argyreia'' is a genus of plants in the family Convolvulaceae.
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus ''Argyreia'':
* '' Argyreia adpressa'' (Choisy) Boerl.
* '' Argyreia akoensis '' S.Z.Yang, P.H.Chen & Staples
* '' Argyr ...
''
* ''
Astripomoea''
* ''
Calystegia
''Calystegia'' (bindweed, false bindweed, or morning glory) is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the bindweed family Convolvulaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution in temperate and subtropical regions, but with half o ...
''
* ''
''
* ''
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, moonflo ...
'' (the largest genus)
* ''
Lepistemon''
* ''
Merremia
''Merremia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as woodroses.
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus ''Merremia'':
*''Merremia aniseiifolia, ...
''
* ''
Operculina
''Operculina'' is a genus of plants in the Convolvulaceae, morning-glory family which that are found throughout the world.
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus ''Operculina'':
*''Operculina aequisepala'' (Domin) R. W. Johns ...
''
* ''
Rivea''
* ''
Stictocardia
''Stictocardia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Convolvulaceae.
Its native range is Tropical and Subtropical Old World
The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became ...
''
As the name suggests, most ''morning'' glory flowers unfurl into full bloom in the early morning. The flowers usually start to fade a few hours before the corolla begins to display visible curling. They prefer full solar exposure throughout the day, and
mesic soils. Some morning glories, such as ''
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 ...
'', ''
Ipomoea alba
''Ipomoea alba'', sometimes called the tropical white morning-glory or moonflower or moon vine, is a species of night-blooming morning glory, native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America, from Argentina to northern Mexic ...
'', and ''
Ipomoea macrorhiza
''Ipomea macrorhiza'' is an extremely rare species of tuberous, night-blooming 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 cur ...
'', are night-blooming flowers.
History
''
Ipomoea nil
''Ipomoea nil'' is a species of ''Ipomoea'' morning glory known by several common names, including picotee morning glory, ivy morning glory, and Japanese morning glory (although it is not native to Japan). It is native to the tropical Americas, a ...
'', a species of morning glory, was first known in
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
for its
medicinal
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practic ...
uses, due to the
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 ...
properties of its seeds.
Ancient
Mesoamerican
Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most of Central America. It extends from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica. Withi ...
civilizations used the morning glory species ''
Ipomoea alba
''Ipomoea alba'', sometimes called the tropical white morning-glory or moonflower or moon vine, is a species of night-blooming morning glory, native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America, from Argentina to northern Mexic ...
'' to convert 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 ...
from the ''
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 ...
'' tree and also the
guayule plant to produce bouncing
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 ...
balls.
The
sulfur
Sulfur (or sulphur in British English) is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with a chemical formula ...
in the morning glory's juice served to
vulcanize
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 include ...
the rubber, a process antedating
Charles Goodyear
Charles Goodyear (December 29, 1800 – July 1, 1860) was an American self-taught chemist and manufacturing engineer who developed vulcanized rubber, for which he received patent number 3633 from the United States Patent Office on June 15, 1844.
...
's discovery by at least 3,000 years.
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 ...
priests in
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
were also known to use the plant's hallucinogenic properties (see ''
Rivea corymbosa
''Ipomoea corymbosa'' is a species of morning glory, native throughout Latin America from Mexico as far south as Peru and widely naturalised elsewhere. Its common names include Christmasvine, Christmaspops, and snakeplant.
Description and names
...
'').
Invasive species
In some places, such as
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
n bushland, some species of morning glories develop thick roots and tend to grow in dense thickets. They can quickly spread by way of long, creeping stems. By crowding out, blanketing, and smothering other plants, morning glory has turned into a serious
invasive weed
A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...
problem.
In parts of the US, species such as ''
Calystegia sepium
''Calystegia sepium'' (hedge bindweed, Rutland beauty, bugle vine, heavenly trumpets, bellbind, granny-pop-out-of-bed and many others) is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, subcosmopolit ...
'' (hedge bindweed), ''
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 ...
'' (common morning glory) and ''
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 ...
'' (blue morning glory) have shown to be invasive. In fact, as of 2021, most non-native species of ''
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, moonflo ...
'' are currently illegal to cultivate, possess, and sell in the U.S. state of
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
, and before 4 January 2020, this ban applied to native species, too. This is because some species of Convolvulaceae (like ''
Convolvulus arvensis
''Convolvulus arvensis'', the field bindweed, is a species of bindweed that is rhizomatous and is in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), native to Europe and Asia. It is a climbing or creeping herbaceous perennial plant with stems growing ...
'' and ''
Ipomoea × leucantha'') have been known to cause problems in crops, especially in cotton fields.' ''
Ipomoea aquatica
''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 ...
'' is a federal noxious weed, though some states, like Texas, have acknowledged its status as a vegetable and allow it to be grown.
Cultivation
In cultivation, most are treated as
perennial plant
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 ...
s in frost-free areas and as
annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to the production of seeds, within one growing season, and then dies. The length of growing seasons and period in which they take place vary according to geographical ...
s in colder climates, but some species tolerate winter cold. Some species are strictly annual (e.g. ''
Ipomoea nil
''Ipomoea nil'' is a species of ''Ipomoea'' morning glory known by several common names, including picotee morning glory, ivy morning glory, and Japanese morning glory (although it is not native to Japan). It is native to the tropical Americas, a ...
),'' producing many seeds, and some perennial species (e.g. ''
I. indica'') are propagated by cuttings. Some
moonflowers, which flower at night, are also in the morning glory family.
Because of their fast growth, twining habit, attractive flowers, and tolerance for poor, dry soils, some morning glories are excellent vines for creating summer
shade on building walls when trellised, thus keeping the building cooler and reducing heating and cooling costs.
Popular varieties in contemporary western cultivation include
'Sunspots',
'Heavenly Blue', moonflower,
cypress vine
''Ipomoea quamoclit'', commonly known as cypress vine, cypress vine morning glory, cardinal creeper, cardinal vine, star glory, star of Bethlehem or hummingbird vine, is a species of vine in the family Convolvulaceae native to tropical regions o ...
, and
cardinal climber Cardinal climber is a common name for several plants and may refer to:
* '' Ipomoea × multifida''
* '' Ipomoea × sloteri''
See also
* Cardinal creeper ('' Ipomoea horsfalliae'')
* Cardinal vine ('' Ipomoea quamoclit'')
{{Plant common name ...
. The cypress vine is a hybrid, with the cardinal climber as one parent.
Many morning glories self-seed in the garden. They have a hard seed coat, which delays germination until late spring. Germination may be improved by soaking in warm water.
Morning glory has been a favorite flower in
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
for many a long century.
["The Japan Magazine A Representative Monthly of Things Japanese vol 7" S. Murayama, Japan magazine Company 1916, p175] The cultivation started in the
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from CE 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the cap ...
(8th century).
[ The big booms of the selective breeding of the morning glory happened in the ]Edo era
The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteri ...
(17-19th century).[ The large-flowered morning glory was broadly cultivated as a hobby flower. The varied Japanese morning glory (変化朝顔 Henka-asagao or mutant morning glory) was created.][くらしの植物苑特別企画「伝統の朝顔」]
National Museum of Japanese History.
Asagao no hachi o motsu bijin LCCN2008660553.jpg
Jp asago sanjuu rokka sen 003.jpg,
Jp asago sanjuu rokka sen 033.jpg,
Jp asago sanjuu rokka sen 017.jpg
Jp asago sanjuu rokka sen 020.jpg
Jp asago sanjuu rokka sen 034.jpg
Jp asago sanjuu rokka sen 005.jpg
Jp asago sanjuu rokka sen 001.jpg
Culinary uses
''Ipomoea aquatica
''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 ...
'', known as water spinach, water morning glory, water convolvulus, ''ong-choy, kang-kung'', or swamp cabbage, is popularly used as a green vegetable, especially in East
East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth.
Etymology
As in other languages, the word is formed from the fa ...
and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
n cuisine
A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, customs, and ingredients combine to ...
s. In the US, ''I. aquatica'' is a federal noxious weed
Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to:
Politics
General
*Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies
*Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...
, and can be illegal to grow, import, possess, or sell without a permit. A market exists, though, for the plant's powerful culinary potential. As of 2005, the state of Texas has acknowledged that water spinach is a highly prized vegetable in many cultures, and has allowed it to be grown for personal consumption, in part because it is known to have been grown in Texas for more than 15 years and has not yet escaped cultivation.
The genus ''Ipomoea'' also contains the 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 ...
(''I. batatas''). Though the term "morning glory" is not usually extended to ''I. batatas'', sometimes it may be referred to as a "tuberous
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 ...
morning glory" in a horticultural context. Some cultivars of ''I. batatas'' are grown for their ornamental value, rather than for the edible tuber.
Chemistry and ethnobotany
The seeds
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiosperm pl ...
of many species of morning glory contain 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 ...
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 such as the psychedelic
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
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 ...
and 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). Seeds of ''Ipomoea tricolor
''Ipomoea tricolor'', the Mexican morning glory or just morning glory, is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae, native to the New World tropics, and widely cultivated and naturalised elsewhere. It is an herbaceous annual or ...
'' and ''Turbina corymbosa
''Ipomoea corymbosa'' is a species of morning glory, native throughout Latin America from Mexico as far south as Peru and widely naturalised elsewhere. Its common names include Christmasvine, Christmaspops, and snakeplant.
Description and names ...
'' (syn. ''R. corymbosa'') are used as psychedelic
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
s. The seeds of morning glory can produce a similar effect to LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known colloquially as acid, is a potent psychedelic drug. Effects typically include intensified thoughts, emotions, and sensory perception. At sufficiently high dosages LSD manifests primarily mental, vi ...
when taken in large doses, often numbering into the hundreds. Though the chemical LSA is not legal in some countries, the seeds are found in many gardening stores; however, some claim the seeds from commercial sources can sometimes be coated in some kind of pesticide or methylmercury
Methylmercury (sometimes methyl mercury) is an organometallic cation with the formula . It is the simplest organomercury compound. Methylmercury is extremely toxic, and its derivatives are the major source of organic mercury for humans. It is a ...
(although the latter is illegal in the UK and the US).
Gallery
File:Morning Glory-1.jpg, Morning glory (''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:Blue2glories.jpg, Blue morning glory (''Ipomoea hederacea
''Ipomoea hederacea'', the ivy-leaved morning glory, is a flowering plant in the Convolvulaceae, bindweed family. The species is native to tropical parts of the Americas, and has more recently been introduced to North America. It now occurs the ...
'')
File:Ipomoea purpurea 2400px.jpg, Blue and purple morning glory (''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:Pink Morning Glory 2500px.jpg, A fully open pink morning glory (''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 ...
'')
File:Morning Glory Curled Side 1800px.jpg, Side view of a partially curled ''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 ...
'' in early afternoon
File:Morning Glory Curled Top 2250px.jpg, The top of partially curled ''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 ...
'' in early afternoon
File:Morning Glory Leaves 3284px.jpg, The leaves of common morning glory (''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:Blue Morning Glory 2.jpg, Opening blue 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:BlueMorningGloryClose.jpg, Close-up of a blue morning glory flower (''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:MorningGlory5.jpg, Close-up of a hedge bindweed flower (''Calystegia sepium
''Calystegia sepium'' (hedge bindweed, Rutland beauty, bugle vine, heavenly trumpets, bellbind, granny-pop-out-of-bed and many others) is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, subcosmopolit ...
'')
File:MorningGlory.JPG, Climbing morning glory vine (''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:Blue Morning Glory flower.jpg, alt=Blue morning glory flower, Blue morning glory flower (''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 ...
'')
References
Further reading
*
* Furst, Peter (1990). ''Flesh of the Gods''. .
* Schultes, Richard Evans (1976). ''Hallucinogenic Plants''. Elmer W. Smith, illustrator. New York: Golden Press. .
External links
*
Erowid Morning Glory Vault
Morning Glory Flowers
is a book from 1854
{{Hallucinogenic lysergamides
Convolvulaceae
Herbal and fungal hallucinogens
Natural sources of lysergamides
Plant common names