Ipomoea purpurea

Ipomoea purpurea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Convolvulaceae
Genus:	Ipomoea
Species:	I. purpurea
Binomial name
Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth[1]

Ipomoea purpurea, the Purple, Tall, or Common Morning Glory, is a species in the genus Ipomoea, native to Mexico and Central America. Like all morning glories the plant entwines itself around structures, growing to a height of 2–3 m tall. The leaves are heart-shaped and the stems are covered with brown hairs. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, predominantly blue to purple or white, 3–6 cm diameter. ^[2]

Habitats

The plant is predisposed to moist and rich soil, but can be found growing in a wide array of soil types.^[3] It is naturalized throughout warm temperate and subtropical regions of the world. Although it is often considered a noxious weed, Ipomoea purpurea is also grown for its beautiful purple and white flowers and has many cultivars. Common cultivars include I. purpurea 'Crimson Rambler' (red-violet blossoms with white throats); 'Grandpa Ott's,' 'Kniola's Black Knight,' and 'Star of Yelta' (blossoms in varying shades of deep purple with white or pale pink throats); and 'Milky Way' (white blossoms with mauve accents).

The triangular seeds have some history of use as a psychedelic; they, like Ipomoea tricolor contain LSA.^[3] Effects are reported to be somewhat similar to those of LSD.^[4]

Gallery

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  Light blue I. purpurea

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  Pink Ipomoea purpurea

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  Pink Ipomoea purpurea close-up

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  Ipomoea purpurea in Loganville, Georgia

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  Pink Ipomoea purpurea

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  Purple Ipomoea purpurea close-up

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  Purple Ipomoea purpurea close-up

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  Scanning electron micrograph of Ipomoea purpurea pollen.

See also

• Morning glory

Notes

1. ^ USDA Plants Profile
2. ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Ipomoea purpurea
3. ^ ^{a b} Richard H. Uva, Joseph C. Neal and Joseph M. Ditomaso, Weeds of The Northeast, (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997), Pp. 214-217
4. ^ Charles Savage, Willis W. Harman and James Fadiman, Ipomoea purpurea: A Naturally Occurring Psychedelic

External links

• Ipomoea purpurea in TopWalks