swamp morning-glory
(Ipomoea aquatica)
Overview
- Appearance
- Ipomoea aquatica is an annual herb. It can be a procumbent terrestrial in wetland areas or a floating aquatic. The thick hollow stems root at the nodes. Stems are slightly swollen above the nodes. It is native to temperate and tropical Asia, Africa, and Australia. It is used as a pot herb in some regions.
- Foliage
- The petiolate leaves are hastate (halberd shaped) with the central lobe lanceolate. The basal lobes are much smaller and sometimes almost absent. Leaves are from 1.5-5 in. (4-12 cm) inches long.
- Flowers
- The white to purple funnel shaped flowers are usually solitary. Sometimes a few flowers are held in a cyme. It can flower year round in tropical climates.
- Fruit
- Ipomoea aquatica fruits are woody ovoid capsules.
- Ecological Threat
- Ipomoea aquatica can become an invasive problem in some tropical and temperate regions outside of its native range. Its common name, water spinach indicates that use as a food is one reason it has been spread to other parts of the world. It is listed as a noxious weed in the United States. Ipomoea aquatica has been reported in Florida, California, Hawaii and Washington. It has also been reported in Micronesia, French Polynesia and South America.
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State List - This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law. For more information, visit Invasive.org
Invasive Listing Sources
- Federal Noxious Weeds
- Florida Invasive Plant Council - Plant List - Category I
- Florida Noxious Weeds
- Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
- Indiana Prohibited Plant Species
- Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
- Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List
- Minnesota DNR invasive species list
- National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
- New Hampshire Prohibited Aquatic Species
- New Invaders of the Southeast
- South Carolina Illegal Aquatic Plants
- South Carolina Plant Pest List
- Texas Noxious Weeds
- Treasure Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Mgmt. Area
- USDA APHIS Regulated Pest List
- Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
- Virginia Noxious Weeds
- Virginia Regulations for Enforcement of Noxious Weeds Law
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Wisconsin Noxious Weeds
- Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40
Taxonomic Rank
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass: Asteridae |
| Order: Solanales |
| Family: Convolvulaceae |
| Genus: Ipomoea |
| Subject: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. |
Synonyms and Other Names
Other Common Names:
swamp morning-glory, Water spinach, Swamp-cabbage, Ipomoea reptans,chinese water spinach, swamp morning glory, swanp morningglory
Related Scientific Names:
Ipomoea reptans Poir. (Synonym)
References
Common Name Reference: Weed Science Society of America Common Names List
Scientific Name Reference: PLANTS Database