Tropical white morning glory
Ipomoea alba

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A twining plant which keeps growing from year to year. It can climb to 5 m high and spread to 20 m across. It is often grown as an annual plant. The leaves are oval or rounded and sometimes with 3 lobes. They are deep green in colour. Leaves are 10-20 cm long. The flowers are trumpet shaped and occur as 1-8 together. They are 12-14 cm across and tinted green on the outside. They have a sweet smell and open at night.

There are about 500 Ipomoea species. They are mostly in the tropics and warm temperate regions.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows throughout the tropics. It needs a temperature above 7°C. It requires a fertile, well drained soil and a sunny position. In Java it grows up to 1,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America (country/location of origin), China, Colombia, Congo DR, Congo R, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Kenya, Korea, Laos, Leeward Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Is., North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Worldwide tropics, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves and fleshy calyces are steamed and eaten as a vegetable. They are also used in curries, soups and stews. They can be used fresh or dried. Seed are eaten when young. The dried flowers or calyces are used in vegetable soup. The roots are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, calyces,vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seed should be soaked in warm water for 12 hours before sowing. Seed germinate in 1-3 weeks at 22°C. It forms small tubers along the stem and can be grown from them. Plants can be grown from cuttings of the shoots.

It is a fast growing plant.

Its other names

Local names

Aroi kuchubing, Belle de Nuit, Chandra kali, Chandrakanta, Chandrakanti, Dudh kolmou, Dudkalmi, Dudhiakalmi, Gulchandni, Mandavalli, Moon flower, Muukuthikkay, Naganamukkori, Nwe-kazun-phyu, Panditivankayya, Terulak, Yue guang hua

Synonyms

Calonyction aculeatum (Linnaeus) House; Calonyction aculeatum var. lobatum (H. Hallier) C. Y. Wu; Calonyction album (Linnaeus) House; Calonyction bona-nox (Linnaeus) Bojer; Calonyction bona-nox var. lobatum H. Hallier; Calonyction pulcherrimum Parodi; Calonyction speciosum Choisy; Convolvulus aculeatus Linnaeus; Convolvulus bona-nox (L.) Spreng.; Convolvulus muricatum G. Don; Convolvulus pulcherrimus Vell.; Convolvulus speciosum Choisy; Ipomoea aculeata (Linnaeus) Kuntze; Ipomoea aculeata var. bona-nox (Linnaeus) Kuntze; Ipomoea bona-nox Linnaeus; Ipomoea kirkii Britten; and many others.