The common garden morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea, is one of many climbing members of a family that also includes the sweet potato. Its flaring, funnel-shaped blossom opens during the morning but closes in the afternoon sun. The morning glory, which can have red, pink, white, blue, or purple flowers, grows in almost any soil. Dorling Kindersley

Morning Glory, common name for a plant family (see Nightshade) that includes about 1650 species of vines, shrubs, and a few trees. Most are tropical, and many are considered weeds. The vines common bindweed and wild morning glory, for example, are widespread throughout the United States. The sweet potato, native to tropical America, belongs to this family. Dodder is a parasitic genus, lacking leaves and green color, that attaches itself to and lives on shrubs and herbs; it is a common weed in Europe and the United States.

Many of the ornamental horticultural varieties of morning glory have large, showy flowers and grow in almost any soil. The regular and perfect flowers contain five stamens and from one to four stigmata. The corolla tube has a flaring funnel shape in most species.

The common morning glory grows to 6 m (20 ft), with flowers ranging in color from purple through blue and pink, and with heart-shaped green leaves. The flowers open in the morning and last only a few hours. Several species with flowers that open in late evening are called moonflowers.

Another species, the dwarf morning glory, native to southern Europe, is grown in the United States as an annual for trellises and hanging baskets. It has an erect, branched stem about 30 cm (about 12 in) high. All the horticultural varieties of morning glory are annuals in North America; in cool climates, the perennial forms must be dug up and stored over the winter.

Scientific classification:

"Morning Glory," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

FAMILY : Convolvulaceae GENUS / SPECIES : Ipomoea violacea Turbina (or Rivea) corymbosa

IDENTIFICATION : Annual vine with ovate, deeply cordate leaves 3-4 inches long and 3/4-3 inches wide. The trumpet-shaped flowers vary from white to red, purple, blue, or violet-blue. The ovoid fruit is about 1/2 inch in length and bears elongate, angular black seeds.

RANGE : Mountains of Southern Mexico, Guatamal, West Indies, & Tropical South America

USES : Traditionally used in divination. The seeds of some varieties contain LSA and can cause visual and perceptual effects similar to LSD. LSA containing varieties include Heavenly Blue, Flying Saucers, and Pearly Gates.

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