Slender dwarf morning glory
Evolvulus alsinoides

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A small, weak sprawling herb. It grows 80 cm high. The leaves are alternate and narrow. They are hairy. The flowers are small and blue and shaped like a periwinkle. They occur singly in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a round capsule.

Possibly edible. It is used in India to alleviate nervous conditions. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open forest amongst short grass. It suits open damp places. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,560 m above sea level. It can grow on coastal sands. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Rwanda, SE Asia, Southern Africa, South America, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, medicine

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dhikkahui, Eriraio, Handrinamboa, Kalowa, Kyauk-hkwe-pin

Synonyms

Convolvulus alsinoides L.; Convolvulus linifolius L.; Convolvulus valerianoides Blanco; Evolvulus albiflorus M. Martens & Galeotti; Evolvulus alsinoides var. alsinoides; Evolvulus alsinoides var. choisyanus Meisn.; Evolvulus alsinoides var. debilis (Kunth) Ooststr.; Evolvulus alsinoides var. linnaeanus Meisn.; Evolvulus azureus Vahl ex Schumach. & Thonn.; Evolvulus chinensis Choisy Evolvulus debilis Kunth Evolvulus filiformis Willd. ex Steud.; Evolvulus hirsutulus Choisy; Evolvulus pilosissimus M. Martens & Galeotti; Evolvulus pimulus Span.; Evolvulus pudicus Hance ex Walp.; Evolvulus pumilus Span.; Evolvulus ramiflorus Boj. ex Choisy in DC; Evolvulus ramulosus M.E. Jones;