morning-glory

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• morning-glory
• flying-saucers
• heavenly-blue morning-glory
• pearly-gates
• Garden Morning Glory
• Grannyvine
• Mexican Morning Glory
• Ololiuqui or Mexican Morning Glory
• Tlitliltzin

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pharbitis tricolor
• Pharbitis rubrocaerulea
• Ipomoea rubrocaerulea
• Convolvulus rubrocaeruleus
• Convolvulus venustus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Solanales and the family Convolvulaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Ipomoea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents. In Middle Europe, its presence can be noted in Germany. Moving toward Southeastern Europe, the species is found within Romania. Its range extends significantly into West Tropical Africa, specifically in Ivory Coast and Nigeria. Finally, the distribution reaches into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it is located in Burundi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ipomoea tricolor is characterized by its ability to thrive across a wide altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2000 m AMSL, with an average presence found at approximately 1000 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to human-modified environments, specifically occupying anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) such as disturbed soils, gardens, and roadsides. Its distribution within these habitats suggests a preference for environments shaped by human activity, where it can exploit various niches within the modified landscape across its extensive elevational range.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Ipomoea tricolor is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire biological cycle—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its survival strategy relies on producing hardy seeds that remain dormant in the soil during unfavorable conditions, allowing the species to reappear when environmental circumstances become optimal. This life cycle enables the plant to rapidly exploit available resources, utilizing its climbing or trailing habit to maximize light interception before the onset of seasonal changes that trigger its senescence.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Ipomoea tricolor is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, specifically classified as a forb. This plant functions as an obligatory vine, utilizing its climbing habit to ascend structures. It reaches a mean plant height of approximately 5 m and is strictly terrestrial in its ecological niche, existing neither as an epiphyte nor as an aquatic or semiaquatic species. Furthermore, it maintains an independent lifestyle, as it does not function as a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ipomoea tricolor is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism common to most temperate and tropical herbaceous plants where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic process involves the direct fixation of atmospheric CO2 into three-carbon organic compounds during the Calvin cycle. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the specialized root nodules required to host nitrogen-fixing bacteria, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil to meet its nitrogenous nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ipomoea tricolor is characterized by a versatile flowering period and specific seed morphology. The plant exhibits a highly flexible flowering cycle, with the ability to produce blooms throughout nearly the entire year; flowering can occur from December through November, though the specific timing is considered variable depending on environmental conditions. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds that maintain a highly consistent mass. Each individual seed possesses a uniform weight, with a recorded mean, maximum, and minimum seed mass of 0.02375 g, ensuring a standardized reproductive output for the species.

Flowering time :

Dec

Seed mass mean:

0.02375 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ipomoea tricolor has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHANOCLAVINE, ELYMOCLAVINE, Ergine, Ergometrine, Isoergine.

CHANOCLAVINE

1. Dr. Duke

ELYMOCLAVINE

1. Dr. Duke

Ergine

1. Dr. Duke

Ergometrine

1. Dr. Duke

Isoergine

1. Dr. Duke

OPDA

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Tricolorin A

1. Journal of natural products

cis-12-oxophytodienoic acid

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Activities

Ipomoea tricolor has 9 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Antiimplantation, CNS-Stimulant, Hallucinogen, Hemostat.

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Antiimplantation

1. Dr. Duke

CNS-Stimulant

1. Dr. Duke

Hallucinogen

1. Dr. Duke

Hemostat

1. Dr. Duke

Lactafuge

1. Dr. Duke

Oxytocic

1. Dr. Duke

Prolactin-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Uterotonic

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations