Ipomoea alba L.

All images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View selected images

Ipomoea alba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Greystone Park NR

Ipomoea alba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Greystone Park NR

Ipomoea alba

Photo: Mark Hyde
Greystone Park Nature Reserve

Ipomoea alba

Photo: Mark Hyde
Fifth Street Extension, opposite the entrance to the National Botanic Gardens entrance

Ipomoea alba

Photo: Mark Hyde
Fifth Street Extension, opposite the entrance to the National Botanic Gardens entrance

Ipomoea alba

Photo: Mark Hyde
Goodrington Drive, near junction with Glencairn Drive, Sunnridge

Ipomoea alba

Photo: Mark Hyde
Goodrington Drive, near junction with Glencairn Drive, Sunnridge

Ipomoea alba

Photo: Mark Hyde
Goodrington Drive, near junction with Glencairn Drive, Sunnridge

Ipomoea alba

Photo: Mark Hyde
Goodrington Drive, near junction with Glencairn Drive, Sunnridge

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

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. Images 1 through 3 are of a well-naturalised plant and is the first record for the Central division.
Derivation of specific name: alba: white
Habitat: Escaping into disturbed ground and into a riverine forest
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:Oct - Jun
Worldwide distribution: Native of tropical America
Zimbabwe distribution: C,E
Growth form(s): Climber.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Saturday 5 November 2016
Literature:

Gonçalves, M.L. (1987). Convolvulaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(1) Pages 110 - 111. (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 36.


Other sources of information about Ipomoea alba:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Ipomoea alba
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Ipomoea alba

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Ipomoea alba
African Plant Database: Ipomoea alba
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Ipomoea alba
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ipomoea alba
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Ipomoea alba
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Ipomoea alba
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ipomoea alba
JSTOR Plant Science: Ipomoea alba
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Ipomoea alba
Plants of the World Online: Ipomoea alba
Tropicos: Ipomoea alba
Wikipedia: Ipomoea alba


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Ipomoea alba.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=147500, retrieved 29 March 2024

Site software last modified: 26 March 2018 2:01pm (GMT +2)
Terms of use