Ipomoea alba L.

Images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record

Photo: Bart Wursten
Greystone Park NR

Photo: Mark Hyde
Greystone Park Nature Reserve

Synonyms:	Calonyction aculeatum (L.) House Calonyction speciosum Choisy Convolvulus aculeatus L. Ipomoea bona-nox L.
Common names:	Moon flower (English)
Frequency:	Occasional
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Annual or perennial climber. Stems with milky sap, sparsely prickly. Leaves broadly ovate to heart-shaped, often more or less 3-lobed. Flowers large, white with lime-green bands, opening at night. Fruit a fleshy capsule, held in the thickened remains of the calyx.
Notes:	It was introduced as a garden ornamental and is known as an occasional naturalised escape. The image is of a well naturalised plant and is the first record for the Central division.
Derivation of specific name:	alba: white
Habitat:	In riverine forest
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Oct - Jun
Worldwide distribution:	Native of tropical America
Zimbabwe distribution:	C,E
Growth form:	P
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Monday 22 May 2006
Literature:

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Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Ipomoea alba page
Flora of Mozambique: Ipomoea alba
African Plant Database: Ipomoea alba
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Ipomoea alba
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ipomoea alba
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Ipomoea alba
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Ipomoea alba
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Ipomoea alba
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ipomoea alba
JSTOR Plant Science: Ipomoea alba
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Ipomoea alba
Tropicos: Ipomoea alba
West African Plants database: Ipomoea alba