Ipomoea indica

Ipomoea indica (Burm.) Merr., Interpr. Herb. Amboin. 445. 1917; Fosberg, Micronesia 2: 151. 1967; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 16: 305; Austin, Fl. Pak @ eFloras.org p. 44; Convolvulus indicus Burm. f., Herb. Amboin. Auctuar. 7 (Ind. Univ.): 6. 1755; I. acuminata (Vahl.) Roem. & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 4: 228. 1819; Verdcourt, Hubbard & Milne- Redhead, Fl. Trop. E. Afr. 81. 1963; Austin, Ann. Miss. Bot. Gard. 62: 192. 1975; I. congesta R. Br., Prodr. 485. 1810; Choisy in DC., Prodr. 9: 349. 1845; I. learii Paxton, Bot. Mag. 6: 267. 1839; Parker, For. Fl. Punj. ed.1. 365. 1918 (Reprint 1973).

Herbs twining or sometimes prostrate with +/- densely retrosely pilose axial parts. Stems 3-6 m long. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, simple; leaf blades ovate or circular, 5-15 cm long and broad, simple, entire or deeply 3-lobed, base cordate, apex acute to acuminate, densely short soft pubescent; petiole slender, nearly as long as blade. Inflorescence dense umbellate cymes, several flowered, flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, 5-merous, hypogynous; peduncle 4-20 cm, cymes usually silky-white pubescent; bracts 3 per flower, linear, sometimes lanceolate, outermost larger ca. 2.5 cm and inner 1.5-2.2 cm, sparsely pubescent; pedicels 3-7 mm. Sepals 5, free, unequal, 10-20 mm long, lanceolate to ovate to broadly lanceolate, apically acuminate or long acuminate, pubescent to glabrate. Corolla 7.5-10 cm long and across, bright violet blue with 5 narrow pinkish midpetaline bands and paler centre, campanulate, suddenly widened at mouth, glabrous; lobes 5, obsolete. Stamens 5, unequal, 1.6-2.5 cm, included, lower parts of filaments silky white; anthers ca. 5 mm x 1.5 mm, basifixed, longitudinal dehiscence. Pistil ca. 3.5 cm long, included; 3-locular, glabrous; stigma 3-lobed.

Capsules +/- globose, 1-1.3 cm in diameter. Seeds commonly 4, ca. 5 mm long, tan to dark brown, glabrous. (Fruits not observed)

Flowering and Fruiting: February to November
Common Names: Ocean Blue Morning Glory, Blue Dawn Flower, Blue Morning Glory