''Ipomoea muricata'', also called lavender moonvine, is a climbing vine in the genus ''

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, Ipomoea aquatica, water convolvulus or water spinach, sweet potato, ...

'', the same genus that contains the various

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 ...

species and

sweet potato The sweet potato or sweetpotato (''Ipomoea batatas'') is a dicotyledonous plant in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Its sizeable, starchy, sweet-tasting tuberous roots are used as a root vegetable, which is a staple food in parts of ...

. It is native to Central America, but now distributed widely across the tropics and subtropics.

Morphology

''Ipomoea muricata'' is a fast annual climber, with funnel-shaped and white, reddish or lilac flowers, reminiscent of the color of lavender. The stems are twining and muricate. The leaf texture is glabrous, and its shape is ovate or orbicular.

Uses

The various parts of the plant are used as food, medicine and poison by the peoples of its native and expanded range. In the Indian state of Kerala, the plant is called clove bean or and the swollen peduncles are consumed, typically pan-fried or as a

thoran Thoran (pronounced ); or upperi in Northern Kerala is a class of dry vegetable dishes combined with coconut that originated in the Indian state of Kerala. This common dish is usually eaten with rice and curry and is also part of the tradition ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q28502772 muricata Medicinal plants Flora of Kerala Vines Edible plants