finger-leaf morning-glory

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• finger-leaf morning-glory

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Quamoclit digitata
• Ipomoea paniculata var. digitata
• Ipomoea rubrocincta
• Ipomoea rubrocincta var. brachyloba

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Solanales, falling into the family Convolvulaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is established within the genus Ipomoea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the Americas. Within the Caribbean, it can be found growing in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Moving toward the mainland, its range extends into Northern South America, specifically in Guyana. The distribution further reaches deep into the continent, spanning as far as Paraguay in Southern South America. Together, these locations highlight the significant presence of Ipomoea digitata throughout the tropical and subtropical zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Ipomoea digitata is characterized by its growth habit as a woody liana, functioning as an obligatory climber that utilizes surrounding structures for support. Although the species can inhabit various moisture gradients, its primary ecological classification is terrestrial rather than aquatic or semiaquatic. It operates as an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies toward its host plants. Furthermore, it is strictly a terrestrial plant, lacking any epiphytic qualities such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte, and instead relies on its woody stems to ascend through its environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ipomoea digitata is characterized by its metabolic efficiency and specialized adaptive mechanisms suited for its natural environment. Central to its energy production is its photosynthetic pathway, which operates strictly via the C3 mechanism; this involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme RuBisCO to form a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle. This C3 pathway dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and stomatal behavior, as it relies on maintaining open stomata for gas exchange, which inherently leads to higher transpiration rates compared to C4 or CAM species. Furthermore, its physiological processes include complex hormonal regulation to manage growth and stress responses, alongside secondary metabolic pathways that synthesize bioactive compounds used for its medicinal properties.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ipomoea digitata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Conditions

Ipomoea digitata has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology