Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Convolvulaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth

  • Description

    Species Description - Subwoody, twining, pilose vine to 5 m long, not producing milky sap; stems cylindrical, slender, densely covered with reflexed yellowish hairs. Leaf blades 4.5-13.3 x 5.7-15 cm, chartaceous, deeply 3-lobed, the lobes ovate to lanceolate, with acuminate apex, the base cordate or deeply cordate; petioles slender, 2.5-8 cm long. Flowers in simple dichasia or sometimes solitary on peduncle; peduncle as long as the petioles or shorter. Calyx light green, hirsute at base, with 5 equal, lanceolate sepals, 2-3 cm long; corolla funnel-shaped, 4-4.5 cm long, light blue, lavender or fuchsia, with white tube, the lobes rounded; stamens and pistil white and included. Capsule thin-walled, nearly globose, ca. 5 mm long, straw-colored, glabrous, with persistent sepals. Seeds ca. 4 mm long, blackish brown, with a few grayish hairs.

    Distribution and Ecology - Uncommon in open disturbed areas. Enighed (A3100), Lind Point (A2315), Lameshur Bay (A3161). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola; native to Mexico, now widespread throughout the tropics

  • Discussion

    Common name: morning glory.