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[[Image:Morning_Glory_Flower.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Morning glory flower]]

[[File:Morning-glory-C6295b.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Morning glory flower, ''[[Ipomoea nil]]'']]

[[Image:Morning Glory Photo.jpg|200px|right|thumb|An unopened spiral bud of a morning glory flower]]

[[Image:Morning Glory Photo.jpg|200px|right|thumb|An unopened spiral bud of a morning glory flower, ''[[Ipomoea purpurea]]'']]

'''Morning glory''' is a common name for over 1,000 [[species]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Convolvulaceae]], belonging to the following [[genus|genera]]:

[[Image:Glorious Morning Glories.JPG|200px|right|thumb''[[Ipomoea tricolor]]'' |'Blue Star' cultivat photographed in Haverhill, Massachusetts]]

 

'''Morning glory''' is a common name for '''over 9,000''' [[species]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Convolvulaceae]], whose current taxonomy and systematics is in flux. Morning glory species belong to many [[genus|genera]], some of which being:  

*''[[Calystegia]]''

*''[[Calystegia]]''

*''[[Convolvulus]]''

*''[[Convolvulus]]''

*''[[Ipomoea]]''

*''[[Ipomoea]]''

*''[[Merremia]]''

*''[[Merremia]]''

*''[[Rivea corymbosa|Rivea]]''

*''Rivea'

*''[[Argyreia]]''

*''[[Lepistemon]]''

 

The flower usually lasts for a single morning and dies in the afternoon.  On a cloudy day, the flower may last until night. New flowers bloom each day. The flowers usually start to fade a couple of hours before the petals start showing visible curling. They prefer full sun throughout the day and [[Mesic habitat|mesic]] soils. Some morning glories, such as ''Ipomoea muricata'', are night blooming flowers.

As the name implies, morning glory flowers, which are funnel-shaped, open in the morning, allowing them to be [[pollinated]] by hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other daytime insects and birds as well as [[Sphingidae|Hawkmoth]] at dusk for longer blooming variants. The [[flower]] typically lasts for a single morning and dies in the afternoon. New flowers bloom each day. The flowers usually start to fade a couple of hours before the petals start showing visible curling. They prefer full sun throughout the day and [[Mesic habitat|mesic]] soils. In cultivation, most are treated as [[perennial plant]]s in tropical areas and as [[annual plant]]s in colder climates, but some species tolerate winter cold. Morning glories are a close relative of Moon flowers which open at night to be pollinated by moths.

In some places such as [[Australia]]n bushland, 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 species|invasive]] [[weed]] problem.

==Cultivation==

==Cultivation==

In cultivation, most are treated as [[perennial plant]]s in frost-free areas and as [[annual plant]]s in colder climates, but some species tolerate winter cold. There are some species which are strictly annual (eg. ''[[Ipomoea nil|I. nil]]),'' producing many seeds, and some perennial species (eg. ''[[Ipomoea indica|I. indica]]'') which are propagated by cuttings.  Some [[moonflower]]s, which flower at night, are also in the morning glory family.

Morning glory is also called '''asagao''' (in [[Japanese language|Japanese]], a compound of 朝 ''asa'' "morning" and 顔 ''kao'' "face"). A rare brownish-coloured variant known as Danjuro is very popular. It was first known in [[China]] for its [[medicinal]] uses, due to the [[laxative]] properties of its seeds. It was introduced to the [[Japan]]ese in the [[9th century]], and they were  first to cultivate it as an ornament. During the [[Edo Period]], it became a very popular ornamental flower. [[Aztec]] priests in [[Mexico]] were also known to use the plant's hallucinogenic properties. (see ''[[Rivea corymbosa]]'').

 

Ancient [[Mesoamerican]] civilizations used the morning glory species ''[[Ipomoea alba]]'' to convert the [[latex]] from the [[Castilla elastica]] tree and also the [[guayule]] plant to produce bouncing [[rubber]] balls. The [[sulfur]] in the morning glory's juice served to [[vulcanize]] the rubber, a process pre-dating [[Charles Goodyear]]'s discovery by at least 3,000 years.[http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1999/rubber-0714.html]

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.

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.

In some places such as [[Australia]]n bushland 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 problem.

Popular varieties in contemporary western cultivation include [[Ipomoea purpurea|'Sunspots']], [[Ipomoea tricolor|'Heavenly Blue']], the [[moonflower]], the [[cypress vine]], and the [[cardinal climber]].  The cypress vine is a hybrid, with the cardinal climber as one parent.

 

''[[Ipomoea batatas]]'' is the Sweet Potato, a familiar food crop.

 

''[[Ipomoea aquatica]]'', 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 Asia|East]] and [[Southeast Asia]]n [[cuisine]]s.  It is a Federal Noxious Weed, however, and technically it is illegal to grow, import, possess, or sell.  See: [http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/weeds/downloads/weedlist2006.pdf  USDA weed factsheet]. The fact that it is goes by so many names means that it easily slips through import inspections, and it is often available in Asian or specialty produce markets.

 

The [[seeds]] of many species of morning glory contain [[ergot alkaloid]]s such as the hallucinogenic [[ergonovine]] and the non-hallucinogenic [[ergine]] (LSA).  Seeds of ''I. tricolor'' and ''I. corymbosa'' (syn. ''R. corymbosa'') are used as [[Psychedelics, Dissociatives and Deliriants|hallucinogen]]s. The seeds can produce similar effect to [[LSD]] when taken in the hundreds. Though the chemical LSA is illegal to posess in pure form, the seeds are found in many gardening stores. They should not be taken by people with a history of liver disorders or hepatitis.  They should not be taken by pregnant women as they can cause uterine contraction which can lead to miscarriage. Individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease (Heart attack, blood clot, and stroke) or a family history of such problems, and the elderly should avoid consuming these seeds due to their vasoconstrictive effects.[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/02/AR2006050201413.html][http://www.slate.com/id/2141138/][http://www.drugscope.org.uk/druginfo/drugsearch/ds_results.asp?file=\wip\11\1\1\morning_glory.htm]

== Gallery ==

== Gallery ==

<gallery>

<center><gallery>

Image:blue2glories.jpg|Blue Morning Glories

Image:blue2glories.jpg|Blue Morning Glories

Image:Ipomoea purpurea 2400px.jpg|A fully open blue and purple morning glory

Image:Ipomoea purpurea 2400px.jpg|A fully open blue and purple morning glory

Image:Pink_Morning_Glory_2500px.jpg|A fully open pink morning glory

Image:Pink_Morning_Glory_2500px.jpg|A fully open pink morning glory

Image:Morning Glory Curled Side 1800px.jpg|Side view of a partially curled morning glory in early afternoon

Image:Morning Glory Curled Side 1800px.jpg|Side view of a partially curled ''Ipomoea purpurea'' in early afternoon

Image:Morning Glory Curled Top 2250px.jpg|The top of partially curled morning glory in early afternoon

Image:Morning Glory Curled Top 2250px.jpg|The top of partially curled ''Ipomoea purpurea'' in early afternoon

Image:Morning Glory Leaves 3284px.jpg|The leaves of a morning glory

Image:Morning Glory Leaves 3284px.jpg|The leaves of a morning glory

Image:Blue Morning Glory.jpg|Opening Blue Morning Glory

Image:Blue Morning Glory.jpg|Opening Blue Morning Glory

</gallery>

</gallery></center>

 

<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

== External links ==

==External links==

{{wiktionarypar|morning glory}}

*{{wplink}}