Ipomoea tricolor

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Ipomoea tricolor
Ipomoea violacea.jpg
Ipomoea tricolor 'Heavenly Blue'
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Ipomoea
Species:
I. tricolor
Binomial name
Ipomoea tricolor

Ipomoea tricolor, the Mexican morning glory or just morning glory, [1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas, and widely cultivated and naturalised elsewhere.

Contents

Description

It is an herbaceous annual or perennial twining liana growing to 2–4 m (7–13 ft) tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, 3–7 cm (1–3 in) long with a 1.5–6 cm (122+12 in) long petiole. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, 4–9 cm (2–4 in) in diameter, most commonly blue with a white to golden yellow centre.

Heavenly blue, and many other species of morning glory, contain ergine.

Cultivation and uses

In cultivation, the species is very commonly grown misnamed as Ipomoea violacea , actually a different, though related, species. I. tricolor does not tolerate temperatures below 5 °C (41 °F), and so in temperate regions is usually grown as an annual. It is in any case a relatively short-lived plant. It prefers a warm, sheltered, sunny position such as a south- or west-facing wall.

Ingesting any part of the plant may cause discomfort. [2]

Numerous cultivars of I. tricolor with different flower colours have been selected for use as ornamental plants; widely grown examples include:

The cultivar 'Heavenly Blue' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [2] [3]

Weed control

Ipomoea tricolor has phytotoxic effects which inhibit seedling growth in weeds. In Mexico, farmers promote the growth of I. tricolor as a cover plant. It prevents weeds and unwanted plants from growing. When it is time to plant crops, this plant is incorporated into the soil. Although it is toxic to weeds, it does not affect crops such as sugarcane. [4]

Toxic treatments aimed at discouraging entheogenic use

Commercial seeds are sometimes treated with toxic methylmercury (although the use of methylmercury has been banned in the US and the UK since the 1980s), which serves as a preservative and a cumulative neurotoxic poison that is considered useful by some to discourage recreational use of the seeds as an entheogen (hallucinogen). There is no legal requirement in the United States to disclose to buyers that seeds have been treated with a toxic heavy metal compound. [5] According to the book Substances of Abuse, in addition to methylmercury, the seeds are claimed to be sometimes coated with a chemical that cannot be removed with washing that is designed to cause unpleasant physical symptoms such as nausea and abdominal pain. The book states that this chemical is also toxic. [6]

Colour change

In Ipomoea tricolor 'Heavenly Blue', the colour of the flower changes during blossom according to an increase in vacuolar pH. [7] [8] [9] This shift, from red to blue, is induced by chemical modifications affecting the anthocyanin molecules present in the petals.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convolvulaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

Convolvulaceae, commonly called the bindweeds or morning glories, is a family of about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species. These species are primarily herbaceous vines, but also include trees, shrubs and herbs. The tubers of several species are edible, the best known of which is the sweet potato.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morning glory</span> Common name for more than 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae

Morning glory is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, whose current taxonomy and systematics are in flux. Morning glory species belong to many genera, some of which are:

<i>Convolvulus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Convolvulus is a genus of about 200 to 250 species of flowering plants in the bindweed family Convolvulaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include bindweed and morning glory; both are names shared with other closely related genera.

<i>Ipomoea</i> Genus of flowering plants

Ipomoea is the largest genus in the plant family Convolvulaceae, with over 600 species. It is a large and diverse group, with common names including morning glory, water convolvulus or water spinach, sweet potato, bindweed, moonflower, etc. The genus occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants, lianas, shrubs, and small trees; most of the species are twining climbing plants.

<i>Ipomoea purpurea</i> Species of plant

Ipomoea purpurea, the common morning-glory, tall morning-glory, or purple morning glory, is a species in the genus Ipomoea, native to Mexico and Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lysergic acid hydroxyethylamide</span> Chemical compound

D-Lysergic acid α-hydroxyethylamide, also known as D-lysergic acid methyl carbinolamide, is a Lysergamide and alkaloid of the Ergoline family, it is present in higher concentrations in the parasitic fungi species "Claviceps", mainly the Claviceps paspali, also in Claviceps Purpurea. This fungi grows in various species in the Convolvulaceae family like the Ipomoea violacea, the Rivea corymbosa (Ololiuhqui), and the Argyreia nervosa. Heavenly Blue Morning Glory and Hawaiian Baby Woodrose especially contain high amounts of LSH, with content varying between species and by how fresh the seeds are. LSH is a psychoactive Ergoline and has effects similar to LSD due to similarity in the structure and is the main psychoactive compound found in Claviceps Paspali and in (fresh) Heavenly Blue Morning Glory Seeds. LSH is unstable and breaks down into LSA quickly, so old seeds often only contains LSA and iso-LSA. When the seeds are fresh, they contain significantly higher amounts of LSH.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lysergol</span> Chemical compound

Lysergol is an alkaloid of the ergoline family that occurs as a minor constituent in some species of fungi, and in the morning glory family of plants (Convolvulaceae), including the hallucinogenic seeds of Rivea corymbosa (ololiuhqui), Argyreia nervosa and Ipomoea violacea. Lysergol is not a controlled substance in the USA. Its possession and sale is also legal under the U.S. Federal Analog Act because it does not have a known pharmacological action or a precursor relationship to LSD, which is a controlled substance. However, lysergol is an intermediate in the manufacture of some ergoloid medicines.

<i>Ipomoea violacea</i> Species of flowering plant

Ipomoea violacea is a perennial species of Ipomoea that occurs throughout the world with the exception of the European continent. It is most commonly called beach moonflower or sea moonflower as the flowers open at night.

<i>Ipomoea pes-caprae</i> Species of flowering plant

Ipomoea pes-caprae, also known as bayhops, bay-hops, beach morning glory, railroad vine, or goat's foot, is a common pantropical creeping vine belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. It grows on the upper parts of beaches and endures salted air. It is one of the most common and most widely distributed salt tolerant plants and provides one of the best known examples of oceanic dispersal. Its seeds float and are unaffected by salt water.

<i>Ipomoea cairica</i> Species of vine

Ipomoea cairica is a vining, herbaceous, perennial plant with palmate leaves and large, showy white to lavender flowers. A species of morning glory, it has many common names, including mile-a-minute vine, Messina creeper, Cairo morning glory, coast morning glory and railroad creeper. The species name cairica translates to "from Cairo", the city where this species was first collected.

<i>Ipomoea lobata</i> Species of flowering plant

Ipomoea lobata, the fire vine, firecracker vine or Spanish flag, is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae, native to Mexico and Brazil.

<i>Ipomoea indica</i> Species of flowering plant

Ipomoea indica is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae, known by several common names, including blue morning glory, oceanblue morning glory, koali awa, and blue dawn flower. It bears heart-shaped or three-lobed leaves and purple or blue funnel-shaped flowers 6–8 cm (2–3 in) in diameter, from spring to autumn. The flowers produced by the plant are hermaphroditic. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<i>Ipomoea hederacea</i> Species of flowering plant

Ipomoea hederacea, the ivy-leaved morning glory or Kaladana, is a flowering plant in the bindweed family. The species is native to tropical parts of the Americas, and has more recently been introduced to North America. It now occurs there from Arizona to Florida and north to Ontario and North Dakota. Like most members of the family, it is a climbing vine with alternate leaves on twining stems. The flowers are blue to rose-purple with a white inner throat and emerge in summer and continue until late fall. The leaves are typically three-lobed, but sometimes may be five-lobed or entire. Flowers occur in clusters of one to three and are 2.5–4.5 cm long and wide. The sepals taper to long, recurved tips and measure 12–24 mm long. The species shares some features with the close relative Ipomoea purpurea, and is almost identical in appearance to wild forms of I. nil.

<i>Ipomoea nil</i> Species of vine

Ipomoea nil is a species of Ipomoea morning glory known by several common names, including picotee morning glory, ivy morning glory, ivy-leaf morning glory, and Japanese morning glory. It is native to the tropical Americas, and has been introduced widely across the world.

<i>Ipomoea heptaphylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Ipomoea heptaphylla, sometimes known as Wright's morning glory in the United States, is a species of morning glory. It is incorrectly classified as I. wrightii in American publications, but is incorrectly known as I. tenuipes in Africa and India. It is an annual or short-lived perennial vine which climbs using twining stems, and has pink or purple flowers. The leaf shape is somewhat variable, with individuals possessing compound leaves palmately divided into five leaflets, and lanceolate-leaved individuals occurring in neighbouring populations. The name heptaphylla actually means 'seven-leaved'. This plant has a very extensive distribution, from Texas and adjacent states in the southeastern USA to Misiones in northern Argentina, the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean, India, Sri Lanka and East and Southern Africa. Despite its wide distribution it is uncommon throughout its range. The rediscovery of the presence of the species in India after an absence of over half a century was published in 2014. The species appears to favour dry subtropical to tropical habitats.

<i>Ipomoea leptophylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Ipomoea leptophylla, the bush morning glory, bush moonflower or manroot, is a species of flowering plant in the bindweed family, Convolvulaceae.

<i>Ipomoea coccinea</i> Species of flowering plant

Ipomoea coccinea is a flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae known by several common names including red morning glory, redstar and (ambiguously) Mexican morning glory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violdelphin</span> Chemical compound

Violdelphin is an anthocyanin, a plant pigment, has been found in the purplish blue flower of Aconitum chinense, in the blue flowers in the genus Campanula and in the blue flowers of Delphinium hybridum. It is a flavenoid natural product, incorporating two p-hydroxy benzoic acid residues, one rutinoside and two glucosides associated with a delphinidin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basics of blue flower colouration</span>

Blue flower colour was always associated with something unusual and desired. Blue roses especially were assumed to be a dream that cannot be realised. Blue colour in flower petals is caused by anthocyanins, which are members of flavonoid class metabolites. We can diversify three main classes of anthocyanin pigments: cyaniding type responsible for red coloration, pelargonidin type responsible for orange colour and delphinidin type responsible for violet/blue flower and fruits coloration. The main difference in the structure of listed anthocyanins type is the number of hydroxyl groups in the B-ring of the anthocyanin. Nevertheless, in the monomeric state anthocyanins never show blue colour in the weak acidic and neutral pH. The mechanism of blue colour formation are very complicated in most cases, presence of delphinidin type pigments is not sufficient, great role play also the pH and the formation of complexes of anthocyanins with flavones and metal ions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floral color change</span> Changes due to age or pollination

Floral color change occurs in flowers in a wide range of angiosperm taxa that undergo a color change associated with their age, or after successful pollination.

References

  1. Brickell, Christopher, ed. (2008). The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 570. ISBN   9781405332965.
  2. 1 2 "RHS Plant Selector - Ipomoea tricolor". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  3. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 53. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  4. Anaya, A (1995). "Allelopathic potential of Ipomoea tricolor (Convolvulaceae) in a greenhouse experiment". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 21 (8): 1085–1102. Bibcode:1995JCEco..21.1085A. doi:10.1007/BF02228313. PMID   24234519 . Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  5. Dunn Chace, Teri (2015). Seeing Seeds: A Journey into the World of Seedheads, Pods, and Fruit. Portland OR: Timber Press. ISBN   978-1604694925.
  6. Potter, James (2008). Substances of Abuse. Redding CA: Jubilee Enterprises. p. 157. ISBN   978-1930327467.
  7. Yoshida, Kumi; Kawachi, Miki; Mori, Mihoko; Maeshima, Masayoshi; Kondo, Maki; Nishimura, Mikio; Kondo, Tadao (2005). "The Involvement of Tonoplast Proton Pumps and Na+(K+)/H+ Exchangers in the Change of Petal Color During Flower Opening of Morning Glory, Ipomoea tricolor cv. Heavenly Blue". Plant and Cell Physiology. 46 (3): 407–415. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pci057 . ISSN   1471-9053. PMID   15695444.
  8. Yoshida, Kumi; Kondo, Tadao; Okazaki, Yoshiji; Katou, Kiyoshi (1995). "Cause of blue petal colour". Nature. 373 (6512): 291. Bibcode:1995Natur.373..291Y. doi: 10.1038/373291a0 . ISSN   0028-0836. S2CID   29952543.
  9. Yoshida, Kumi; Miki, Naoko; Momonoi, Kazumi; Kawachi, Miki; Katou, Kiyoshi; Okazaki, Yoshiji; Uozumi, Nobuyuki; Maeshima, Masayoshi; Kondo, Tadao (2009). "Synchrony between flower opening and petal-color change from red to blue in morning glory, Ipomoea tricolor cv. Heavenly Blue". Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B. 85 (6): 187–197. Bibcode:2009PJAB...85..187Y. doi:10.2183/pjab.85.187. ISSN   0386-2208. PMC   3559195 . PMID   19521056.