''Ipomoea'' () is the largest

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

in the plant family Convolvulaceae, with over 600

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

. 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 taxonomy and systematics remain in flux. These species are distributed across numerous genus, gene ...

, 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 In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

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 o ...

s, lianas,

shrub A shrub or 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 by their multiple ...

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, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...

s; most of the species are twining climbing plants. 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 Ancient Greek , meaning , and (), meaning "resembling". It refers to their twining habit.

Uses and ecology

Human uses of ''Ipomoea'' include: *Most species have small, colorful flowers, and are often grown as ornamentals, and a number of cultivars have been developed. Their deep flowers attract large Lepidoptera – especially the

Sphingidae The Sphingidae are a family of moths commonly 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 species ar ...

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

food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for Nutrient, nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or Fungus, fungal origin and contains essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, protein (nutrient), proteins, vitamins, ...

crops; the

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure that plants use as storage organs for nutrients, derived from stems or roots. Tubers help plants perennate (survive winter or dry months), provide energy and nutrients, and are a means of asexual reproduc ...

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

Polynesia Polynesia ( , ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are called Polynesians. They have many things in ...

n " canoe plants", 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

Apaches The Apache ( ) are several Southern Athabaskan language-speaking peoples of the Southwestern United States, Southwest, the Southern Plains and Northern Mexico. They are linguistically related to the Navajo. They migrated from the Athabascan ho ...

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

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, 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 ...

. * 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, such as vinegar ( pickling), salt ( salting), smoke ( smoking) and sugar ( crystallization), have been used f ...

, is present in significant quantities in the flowers of the 'Heavenly Blue' morning glory cultivar. *''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 ...

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

latex Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latices are found in nature, but synthetic latices are common as well. In nature, latex is found as a wikt:milky, milky fluid, which is present in 10% of all floweri ...

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 Nahuas, most of whom live mainly in Central Mexico and have smaller popul ...

: ''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. Types of polyisoprene ...

; 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 charms (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-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 , which Pliny's ''Natural History'' describes as "an object that protects a perso ...

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 (economics), value ("the stakes") on a Event (probability theory), random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy (ga ...

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 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 broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...

s. 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 Divination () is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic ritual or practice. Using various methods throughout history, diviners ascertain their interpretations of how a should proceed by reading signs, ...

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. Ergin - Ergine

Ergoline derivatives ( lysergamides) are probably responsible for the entheogenic activity. Ergine (LSA), isoergine, D-lysergic acid N-(α-hydroxyethyl)amide and lysergol 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 hallucinogenic. Alexander Shulgin in '' TiHKAL'' 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 is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide normally produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary. Present in animals since early stages of evolution, in humans it plays roles in behavior that include Human bonding, ...

, used to still '' post partum'' 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, which bans cultivation of ''I. violacea'' except for ornamental purposes.

Pests and diseases

Many herbivores avoid morning glories such as ''Ipomoea'', as the high

content makes these plants unpalatable, if not toxic. 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:Sweet potato flower.jpg, '' Ipomoea batatas'' (sweet potato) flower File:Ipomoea lacunosa1.jpg, Whitestar potato '' Ipomoea lacunosa'' 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'' File:Wild Morning Glory -- Ipomoea cordatotriloba.jpg, '' Ipomoea cordatotriloba'' File:Starr 050530-7136 Ipomoea indica.jpg, '' Ipomoea indica'' 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 '' Ipomoea indica'' 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'' in China File:Ipomoea purpurea (Convolvulaceae) flower 1.JPG, '' Ipomoea purpurea'' File:Saltmarsh Morning-glory (Ipomoea sagittata) - Sanibel Island, FL, USA 03.jpg, '' Ipomoea sagittata'' in Florida File:Ипомея. Восточная Сибирь.jpg, '' Ipomoea purpurea'', Eastern Siberia File:Campanitas (in Spanish) (4352689627).jpg, '' Ipomoea campanulata'', India.

References

External links

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