Beach morning glory/Goat's Foot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Beach Morning Glory
• Sea Vine
• Seaside Potato
• Goat's foot
• bay hops
• bay winders
• beach morning-glory
• goat's-foot
• goat's-foot-convolvulus
• railroadvine
• seaside yam

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bonanox orbicularis
• Plesiagopus brasiliensis
• Ipomoea bilobata var. emarginata
• Ipomoea pes-caprae var. biloba
• Plesiagopus maritima
• Latrienda brasiliensis
• Ipomoea pes-caprae f. albiflora
• Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis
• Ipomoea pes-caprae var. perunkulamensis
• Batatas maritima
• Plesiagopus cuneifolia
• Ipomoea orbicularis
• Ipomoea maritima
• Ipomoea biloba
• Ipomoea bilobata
• Ipomoea brasiliensis
• Ipomoea pes-caprae f. arenaria
• Ipomoea pes-caprae var. emarginata
• Convolvulus retusus
• Convolvulus pes-caprae
• Convolvulus bilobatus
• Convolvulus brasiliensis
• Convolvulus bauhiniifolius

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Solanales, it is classified under the family Convolvulaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Ipomoea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution across several coastal regions. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented in Egypt. Its reach extends into Macaronesia, where it can be found in the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, and Madeira. Additionally, the species is located within West Tropical Africa, specifically in Benin. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various tropical and subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ipomoea pes-caprae is characterized by its specialized adaptation to coastal environments, where it thrives as a key component of halophytic vegetation. This plant is highly resilient to saline conditions, allowing it to colonize sandy shores and maritime habitats. Its vertical distribution is defined by a specific altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level at 0 m AMSL up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This wide elevational range, combined with its ability to withstand salt-rich ecosystems, enables it to occupy diverse niches within coastal and near-coastal landscapes.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

halophytic vegetation

Genetics

The genetics of Ipomoea pes-caprae are characterized by specific chromosomal configurations and varying levels of polyploidy that influence its biological stability. The species exhibits a chromosome number of 30 or 60, reflecting its complex genomic structure and capacity for chromosomal doubling. Furthermore, the plant typically functions at a ploidy level of 2, indicating its status as a diploid organism in its standard reproductive state, though the variation in chromosome counts suggests evolutionary mechanisms involving genome duplication.

Chromosome number :

30, 60

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Ipomoea pes-caprae is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its coastal habitats. Its biological structure is defined by two distinct life form classifications: it functions as a geophyte, storing energy and surviving through underground organs, while also exhibiting traits of a cryptophyte, where its regenerative buds are protected at or below the soil surface. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage consistently rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ipomoea pes-caprae is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, as it maintains a strictly terrestrial existence. This plant is an obligatory vine that exhibits a prostrate shoot orientation, often sprawling across the ground. While its vertical plant height typically averages around 0.25 m, it can range from 0 m to a maximum of 30 m depending on environmental conditions and climbing opportunities, with shoot lengths capable of reaching up to 1000 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

0.25 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Shoot length max:

1000 cm

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ipomoea pes-caprae is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storing tissues, and does not function as a nitrogen fixer. Its foliar structure is defined by a lobed leaf form, with dimensions that vary significantly depending on environmental conditions. Specifically, the leaf length typically averages 6.25 cm, though it can range from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a maximum of 11 cm. Complementing this, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 12.2 cm, reflecting a highly adaptable vegetative growth pattern.

Leaf form :

lobed

Leaf length max:

11 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.25 cm

Leaf length min:

3.5 cm

Leaf width max:

12.2 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ipomoea pes-caprae is characterized by a distinct flowering season that typically begins in February and concludes in June. During this period, the plant produces conspicuous pink flowers that vary in size, with a length ranging from 3 to 6 cm and a width between 5 and 8 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule, which typically measures between 1.2 and 1.7 cm in length. These capsules are dehiscent, meaning they split open to release their contents. Each fruit contains a relatively small number of seeds, generally ranging from 1 to 10 per fruit. The seeds themselves are characterized by a length of 6 to 10 mm and possess a mean mass of approximately 0.0698575 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.0703 g to a maximum of 0.11841 g. Dispersal is primarily achieved through a hydrochorous syndrome, utilizing water as the main medium to transport seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

6 cm

Flower length min:

3 cm

Flower width max:

8 cm

Flower width min:

5 cm

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

1.7 cm

Fruit length min:

1.2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed length max:

10 mm

Seed length min:

6 mm

Seed mass max:

0.11841 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0698575 g

Seed mass min:

0.0703 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ipomoea pes-caprae has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, stem.

Flower

1. Environmental toxicology and chemistry

Leaf

1. Environmental toxicology and chemistry

Stem

1. Environmental toxicology and chemistry

Chemicals

Ipomoea pes-caprae has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Simonic acid B, Steroids, Terpenoids, 2-methylpropanoyl.

Flavonoids

1. Marine drugs
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Simonic acid B

1. Journal of natural products
2. Phytochemistry

Steroids

1. Marine drugs
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenoids

1. Marine drugs
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

2-methylpropanoyl

1. Journal of natural products

As

1. Environmental toxicology and chemistry

BARIUM CHLORIDE

1. Acta pharmaceutica Nordica

BRADYKININ

1. Acta pharmaceutica Nordica

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

CR

1. Environmental toxicology and chemistry

Activities

Ipomoea pes-caprae has 4 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antinociceptive, Antiophidic, Antispasmodic.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of natural products
2. Phytochemistry

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Die Pharmazie

Antiophidic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antispasmodic

1. Planta medica

Medicinal Uses

Ipomoea pes-caprae has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include pain, inflammation, cancer, dermatitis, gastrointestinal disorders.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations