Ipomoea alba
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| Ipomoea alba | ||||||||||||||
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| Ipomoea alba L. |
Ipomoea alba, sometimes called the moonflower (but not to be confused with the other species also called moonflower) or moon vine, is a species of night-blooming morning-glory, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the New World, from northern Argentina north to Mexico and Florida.
It is a perennial herbaceous liana growing to a height of 5-30 m tall with twining stems. The leaves are entire or three-lobed, 5-15 cm long, with a 5-20 cm long stem. The flowers are fragrant, white or pink, and large, 8-14 cm diameter. The flowers open quickly in the evening and last through the night, remaining open until touched by the morning sun.
The name Moonflower derives because they bloom in the evening, and are round in shape like a full moon.
[edit] Historical use
The ancient Mesoamerican civilizations used the Ipomoea alba morning glory to convert the latex from the Castilla elastica tree and the guayule plant to produce bouncing rubber balls. The sulfur in this morning glory served to vulcanize the rubber, a process pre-dating Charles Goodyear's discovery by at least 3,000 years.[1]
[edit] Cultivation
The species is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for its flowers. In areas too cold for winter survival, it can be grown as an annual plant. Propagation is usually by seed. The seed resembles a small brownish nut, and should be nicked with a file and then soaked overnight before planting. In some areas it is an invasive species which can cause problems in agricultural settings.
