Scientific Name
Ipomoea indica
Common Names
blue morning glory
Origin
Tropical regions
Family
Convolvulaceae
Distinguishing Characteristics
This is a vigorous perennial (lives more than 2 years) with twining and climbing stems. This is a robust plant and is often found climbing and sprawling over other plants.
Leaves are large (to 15cm wide), numerous and mid green in colour. They may be heart-shaped to 3-lobed and sometimes even 5-lobed, with pointed tips. The upper surface has short appressed (closely positioned) hairs while the lower surface has silky-tomentose (dense intertwined) hairs.
Inflorescence (a group of flowers) can be in bunches of 2 or many at the end of short stems. Flowers are brillant blue-purple with a darker centre, and the petals are joined making each flower a broad trumpet in shape.
Fruit is a capsule.
Other plants easily confused with this plant
This species may be confused with coastal morning glory (Ipomoea cairica) whose leaves have 5-7 lobes, however the leaves and flowers of coastal morning glory are smaller and the lobes are more pronounced.
Blue morning glory may also be confused with species of Calystegia however Calystegia usually has smaller solitary (single) flowers in shades from white to purple depending on the species.
Sources & References
"Plantnet FloraOnline" (2005) http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/
"Flora of New South Wales" editor Gwen J. Harden, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
Prepared by Justin KY Chu, July 2005
Checked by IEWF, November 2006