Ipomoea

From Gardenology.org - Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening Wiki
Revision as of 17:52, 20 November 2007 by Envoy (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigationJump to search
Ipomoea
Ipomoea imperati
Ipomoea imperati
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Ipomoea

Species
See text

The genus Ipomoea, with over 500 species, is the largest genus in the family Convolvulaceae. Most of the species bear the common name Morning Glory. The genus occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants, lianas, shrubs and small trees; most of the species are twining climbing plants. Many species are known as morning glory, a name shared with some other related genera.

The genus includes important food crops (sweet potato and water spinach) and I. violacea, source of the Mexican psychedelic drug, tlitliltzin. Species and cultivars of Ipomoea grown as morning glory are popular in gardens for their often stunning flowers.

Ipomoea species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Ipomoea.

Selected species


Template:Commonscat