Beach Morning glory
Ipomoea pes-caprae

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A vine which creeps along the ground. It continues growing from year to year. The stems can be several metres long. They arise from a thick taproot. The vines die back and re-grow. The leaves are smooth and dark green. They are thick and leathery. They are oblong or round. The blade is 5-12 cm long by 4-12 cm wide. It has 2 large lobes. The leaf stalk is 12 cm long. The flowers are large and pink or purple. They are trumpet shaped and darker in the centre. They are 3-6 cm long. Flowers can occur either singly or as several together. The flower stalk is 5-15 cm long. The fruit are smooth round capsules. These are somewhat hard and woody and are 1.5-2 cm across. They have papery bracts around the base. These capsules are brown and split open when ripe. They contain 4 seeds which are hairy.

There are about 500 Ipomoea species. The tubers are used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from tropical to warm temperate regions. It grows naturally on beaches above high tide and on sand dunes. It needs well drained soil and full sunlight. It can grow in coastal locations and can stand light frost. It is salt tolerant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Anguilla, Asia, Australia, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Cayman islands, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Egypt, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Kenya, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mozambique, Nauru, Norfolk Island, North Africa, Pacific, Palau, Pan tropical, Papua New Guinea, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Suriname, Tahiti, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, UAE, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia

How it is used for food

The roots are cooked and eaten as an emergency food. The stalks are eaten as a famine food. Caution: They should not be eaten in large amounts. At some times of the year they can be bitter.

It is sold in local markets in China.

Edible parts

Roots, leaves, leaf stalks, vegetable, plant - tea

How it is grown

They can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Alalak tasi, Fue moa, Fuefue moa, Goat's foot convolvulus, Lawere, Ma an teng, Pak-boong-talay, Pohue, Qulb al-ashiq, Rogu, Rowu, Te ruku macao, Topo

Synonyms

Convolvulus brasiliensis L.; Ipomoea brasiliensis (L.) Sweet; Ipomoea biloba Forssk.; Ipomoea maritima (Desr.) R. Br.; Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis R. Br.;