View source for Ipomoea pes-caprae

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'''Beach Morning Glory''' or '''Goat's Foot''' ('''''Ipomoea pes-caprae''''') is a common tropical creeping [[vine]] belonging to the family [[Convolvulaceae]]. It grows on the upper parts of [[beach]]es and endures salted air.   It is one of the most common and most widely distributed [[Halophytes|salt tolerant plants]] and provides one of the best known examples of [[Drift seed|oceanic dispersal]]. Its [[seed]]s float and are unaffected by salt water. 

Originally described by [[Carl von Linné]], it was placed in its current genus by [[Robert Brown (botanist)|Robert Brown]] in 1818. 

This species can be found on the [[sand]]y shores of the tropical [[Atlantic ocean|Atlantic]], [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] and [[Indian Ocean]]s. Goat's Foot is common on the sand [[dune]]s of [[Australia]]'s upper north coast of [[New South Wales]] and can also be found along the entire [[Queensland]] coastline. 

Goat's Foot is a primary sand stabilizer being one of the first plants to colonise the dune. It grows on almost all parts of the dune but is usually found on the seaward slopes sending long [[Stolon#In botany|runners]] down towards the toe of the dune. The sprawling runners spread out from the woody rootstock but the large 2-lobed leaves are sparse and a dense cover on the sand is rarely achieved except in protected situations. This plant grows in association with sand [[Spinifex (genus)|spinifex]] grass and is a useful sand binder thriving under conditions of sand blast and salt spray.

This plant &ndash; namely the [[subspecies]] ''brasiliensis'' &ndash; is know as '''''salsa-da-praia''''' in Brazilian folk medicine, and is used to treat [[inflammation]] and [[Gastrointestinal tract|gastrointestinal]] disorders. 

{{Inc|
Ipomoea pes-caprae, Roth (I. maritima, R. Br.). St. creeping, seldom twining, 20-60 ft.: roots often 12 ft. long and 2 in. thick: lvs. 1-4 in. long, fleshy, roundish, often broader than long, with 2 glands at the base and prominently pinnate-veined: peduncles usually few-fld., equaling the petioles; corolla nearly 2 in. long, bell- shaped, margin scarcely lobed. Aug.-Oct. Trop. coasts of both hemispheres; drifting sands of coast, Ga. to Texas.
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