swamp morning-glory
(Ipomoea aquatica)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Origin
Native to temperate and tropical Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Appearance
Ipomoea aquatica is an annual herb. It can be a procumbent terrestrial in wetland areas or a floating aquatic. The thick hollow stems root at the nodes. Stems are slightly swollen above the nodes. It is used as a potherb in some regions.
Foliage
The petiolate leaves are hastate (halberd shaped) with the central lobe lanceolate. The basal lobes are much smaller and sometimes almost absent. Leaves are from 1.5-5" (4-12 cm) long.
Flowers
The white to purple funnel-shaped flowers are usually solitary. Sometimes a few flowers are held in a cyme. It can flower year-round in tropical climates.
Fruit
Ipomoea aquatica fruits are woody ovoid capsules.
Ecological Threat
Ipomoea aquatica can become an invasive problem in some tropical and temperate regions outside of its native range. Its common name, water spinach indicates that use as a food is one reason it has been spread to other parts of the world. It is listed as a noxious weed in the United States. Ipomoea aquatica has been reported in Florida, California, Hawaii, and Washington. It has also been reported in Micronesia, French Polynesia, and South America.
Citation
Angelo, C., Cooley, H., Giardina, D., et al. 2019. Everglades CISMA: Early Detection, Rapid Response Plant Species. Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) CISMA and Friends of Everglades CISMA. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/mura/ECISMA/assets/File/ECISMA_plantEDRR_.pdf
Rawlins, K.A., R.L. Winston, C.T. Bargeron, D.J. Moorhead, and R. Carroll. 2018. New Invaders of the Southeast. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Assessment and Applied Sciences Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. FHTET-2017-05. Retrieved from http://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/pdf/FHTET-2017-05_New%20Invaders_SE.pdf
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
- Federal Noxious Weeds
- Florida Invasive Plant Council - Plant List - Category I
- Florida Noxious Weeds
- Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
- Indiana Prohibited Plant Species
- Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
- Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List
- Minnesota DNR invasive species list
- National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
- New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee. 2005. Guide to Invasive Upland Plant Species in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food Plant Industry Division and New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee.
- New Hampshire Prohibited Aquatic Species
- New Invaders of the Southeast
- South Carolina Illegal Aquatic Plants
- South Carolina Plant Pest List
- Texas Noxious Weeds
- Treasure Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Mgmt. Area
- USDA APHIS Regulated Pest List
- Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
- Virginia Noxious Weeds
- Virginia Regulations for Enforcement of Noxious Weeds Law
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Wisconsin Noxious Weeds
- Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Asteranae |
| Order: Solanales |
| Family: Convolvulaceae |
| Genus: Ipomoea |
| Ipomoea aquatica |
Synonyms and Other Names
Other Common Names:
swamp morning-glory, Water spinach, Swamp-cabbage, Ipomoea reptans,chinese water spinach, swamp morning glory, swanp morningglory
Related Scientific Names:
Ipomoea reptans Poir. (Synonym)
References
Common Name Reference: Weed Science Society of America Common Names List
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.