tall morning-glory

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• common morning glory
• tall morning glory
• Common Morning-Glory
• tall morning-glory
• Annual Morning Glory

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pharbitis purpurea
• Convolvulus schultesii
• Convolvulus hirsutulus
• Pharbitis nil var. diversifolia
• Ipomoea purpurea var. diversifolia
• Ipomoea purpurea var. superba
• Cleiemera cuspidata
• Pharbitis diversifolia
• Pharbitis hispida
• Ipomoea purpurea f. kermesina
• Pharbitis githaginea
• Convolvuloides purpurea
• Ipomoea diehlii
• Convolvuloides leucosperma
• Pharbitis punctata
• Ipomoea caesia
• Ipomoea chanetii
• Ipomoea glandulifera
• Ipomoea purpurea f. triloba
• Ipomoea wattii
• Ipomoea pilosissima
• Ipomoea nil var. diversifolia
• Convolvulus purpureus
• Convolvulus glandulifer
• Convolvulus eriocaulos
• Diatrema purpurea

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. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Ipomoea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse presence across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range can be observed within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found in both Austria and Germany. The distribution extends further into Southwestern Europe, where it inhabits the Baleares. Additionally, this medicinal plant is also documented growing throughout France.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ipomoea purpurea is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a wide altitudinal distribution. It thrives across a broad elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to altitudes of 2800 m AMSL. This species exhibits high ecological plasticity, occupying a variety of distinct habitats including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the semi-arid Caatinga (strictu sensu), and the specialized rocky fields of Campo Rupestre. Furthermore, it is found in diverse ecosystems such as Carrasco, the broad Cerrado (lato sensu), riparian or gallery forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), ombrophilous/rainforests (Floresta Ombrófila), and coastal restinga formations.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Rupestre, Carrasco, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Ipomoea purpurea is characterized by its status as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. Functioning as a therophyte, the species survives unfavorable environmental conditions by producing seeds that remain dormant until the following season, rather than maintaining perennial vegetative structures. This therophytic life form allows the plant to rapidly colonize disturbed areas and utilize seasonal resources to fuel its climbing growth habit and prolific flowering.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Ipomoea purpurea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and a climbing forb. As an independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, this terrestrial species grows as an obligatory vine, utilizing a scandent shoot orientation to navigate its environment. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 2.5 m, with individual shoots capable of extending to a maximum length of 600 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Shoot length max:

600 cm

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ipomoea purpurea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. Its vegetative growth is marked by significant morphological variability in leaf dimensions, which play a critical role in light interception and gas exchange. The leaves exhibit a wide range of sizes, with lengths spanning from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows substantial plasticity, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, with an observed mean width of 8 cm. These physiological parameters reflect the plant's adaptive capacity to optimize its photosynthetic surface area relative to its developmental stage and environmental resource availability.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ipomoea purpurea is characterized by a distinct flowering season that typically commences in August and extends through November, though the timing can be variable. The plant produces striking blue flowers that range in length from 4 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule, which measures between 0.9 cm and 1.5 cm in width and between 1 cm and 1.2 cm in length. These capsules are dehiscence-type fruits, meaning they split open to release their contents. Each fruit typically contains a yield of 1 to 10 seeds. The seeds themselves are uniform in length, averaging and ranging consistently at 7 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds vary from a minimum of 0.02182 g to a maximum of 0.04 g, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.030205 g. The dispersal syndrome for this species is classified as unspecialized, allowing the seeds to propagate through various non-specific environmental mechanisms.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower colour :

blue

Flower length max:

5 cm

Flower length min:

4 cm

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Nov

Fruit length max:

1.2 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width min:

0.9 cm

Seed length mean:

7 mm

Seed mass max:

0.04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.030205 g

Seed mass min:

0.02182 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ipomoea purpurea has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Ipomoea purpurea has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Syringaresinol, (6S,9R)-roseoside, (6S,9R)-vomifoliol, Daucosterol, Isovitexin.

(+)-Syringaresinol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

(6S,9R)-roseoside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

(6S,9R)-vomifoliol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Daucosterol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Isovitexin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

N-p-hydroxy-cis-coumaroyltyramine

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

N-p-hydroxy-trans-coumaroyltyramine

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

N-trans-Feruloyltyramine

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Syringopicroside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Umbelliferone

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Ipomoea purpurea has 3 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidepressant, Anxiolytic, Sedative.

Antidepressant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Anxiolytic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Sedative

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Conditions

Ipomoea purpurea has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidepressant, anxiolytic, sedative.

Antidepressant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Anxiolytic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Sedative

1. Chemistry & biodiversity