Ipomoea purpurea
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| Ipomoea purpurea |
Ipomoea purpurea, the Purple or Common Morning Glory, is a species in the genus Ipomoea, native to Mexico and Central America. Like all morning glories the plant entwines itself around structures with its viny stems, growing to a height of 2-3 m tall. The leaves are heart-shaped and the stems are covered with brown hairs. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, predominantly blue to purple or white, 3-6 cm diameter.
The habitats of morning glories are landscapes, fences and crops. The plant is predisposed to moist and rich soil, but can be found growing in a wide array of soil types [1]. It is naturalized throughout warm temperate and subtropical regions of the world. Although it is often considered a noxious weed, Ipomoea purpurea is also grown for its beautiful purple and white flowers and has many cultivars. Common cultivars include I. purpurea 'Crimson Rambler' (red-violet blossoms with white throats); 'Grandpa Ott's,' 'Kniola's Black Knight,' and 'Star of Yelta' (blossoms in varying shades of deep purple with white or pale pink throats); and 'Milky Way' (white blossoms with mauve accents).
The triangular seeds have some history of use as a psychedelic; they, like Ipomoea tricolor contain LSA [2]. It must be noted that the seeds contain several toxins, so any use should be done with caution. Effects are reported to be almost identical to LSD [2].
[edit] References
- Germplasm Resources Information Network: Ipomoea purpurea
- [1] Richard H. Uva, Joseph C. Neal and Joseph M. Ditomaso, Weeds of The Northeast, (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997), Pp. 214-217
- [2] Charles Savage, Willis W. Harman and James Fadiman, Ipomoea purpurea: A Naturally Occurring Psychedelic
 Light blue Ipomoea purpurea |
 The same flower up close |
 Pink Ipomoea purpurea |
 Pink Ipomoea purpurea close-up |
 Ipomoea purpurea in Loganville, Georgia |
 Pink Ipomoea purpurea |
 Purple Ipomoea purpurea close-up |
 Purple Ipomoea purpurea close-up |
 Purple Ipomoea purpurea close-up |
