Ipomoea indica (blue morning glory)
Perennial climber, with large funnel-shaped blue flowers.
Scientific name: Ipomoea indica (Burm.) Merr.
Common names: blue morning glory, blue dawn flower
Family: Convolvulaceae
Status in Portugal: invasive species (listed in the annex I of Decreto-Lei n° 565/99, 21
December)
Risk Assessment score: (in development)
Synonymy: Pharbifis catharfica (Poiret) Choisy, Ipomoea catarfica Poir., Ipomoea congesta R.
Br., Ipomoea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. var. acuminata (Vahl) Fosberg, Ipomoea mutabilis Lindl.,
Ipomoea learii Paxton, Ipomoea acuminata (Vahl) Roemer & Schultes, Convolvulus acuminatus
Vahl
Last update: 08/07/2014
How to recognise it
Perennial climber up to 15 m.
Leaves: entire to three-lobed, acuminate, largely ovate to cordate, with 9-18 cm.
Flowers: tapered, large, with 6-8,5 cm, very flashy, frequently blue, but sometimes white, pink or
multi-coloured, generally becoming pink when they wither.
Fruits: capsules with 10-13 mm diameter, with 4-6 seeds inside.
Flowering: June to November.
Similar species
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Close-up of three-lobed leaves
Ipomoea indica (blue morning glory)
Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth has some similarities, but it’s an annual herb and with entire leaves.
Its flowers may be grossly mistaken by violet-flowered petunias (Petunia integrifolia (Hook)
Schinz & Thell), but its plant type and leaves are much larger than the latter one’s.
Characteristics that aid invasion
It reproduces vegetatively through stem fragments that root easily. The stems sprout vigorously
after being cut.
Sometimes, but not often, it reproduces by seed.
ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION
Native distribution area
Tropical area of South America, Asia and Hawaii.
Distribution in Portugal
Mainland Portugal (Douro Litoral, Beira Litoral, Estremadura, Ribatejo, Baixo Alentejo,
Algarve), Azores archipelago (all islands), Madeira archipelago (island of Madeira).
Other places where the species is invasive
South Africa, North America (USA), Australia, New Zealand, some Pacific islands and other
countries of the Mediterranean basin.
Introduction reasons
Ornamental reasons.
Preferential invasion environments
Disturbed habitats (hedges, quarries, abandoned constructions, etc.), slopes where it was planted
and under trees or other vegetation. In natural habitats, the problem is mainly by the
watercourses, where it threatens riparian vegetation.
IMPACTS
Impacts on ecosystems
It forms impenetrable mats that smother trees, shrubs and grasses of other species, leading to
their death and preventing the development of native vegetation.
Natura 2000 network habitats more subject to impacts
• Salix alba and Populus alba galleries (92A0).
CONTROL
Controlling an invasive species demands a well-planned management, which includes the
determination of the invaded area, identifying the causes of invasion, assessing the impacts,
defining the intervention
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Ipomoea indica (blue morning glory)
priorities, selecting the adequate control methodologies and their application. Afterwards it is
fundamental to monitor the efficiency of the methodologies and recuperation of the intervened
area as to perform, whenever necessary, the follow-up control.
The control methodologies used for Ipomoea indica include:
Physical control
Hand pulling (preferential methodology). In more compact substrates, hand pulling should be
made during the rainy season to facilitate the removal of the root system. It should be guaranteed
that no large fragments are left in the ground; these would root easily and originate new invasion
foci. Every unpulled material should be removed from the location for later destruction.
Physical + chemical control
Cut stump method. Cut the stems as close to the ground as possible and apply herbicide
immediately afterwards (active substance: glyphosate) to the cut surface. Some authors have
noticed that since the sprouts are more sensitive to the herbicide, this chemical should be applied
to them when they reach 60 cm in height.
Controlo químico
Foliar application of herbicide: applied in extensive areas that are invaded by the species. Spray
with herbicide (active substance: glyphosate) limiting its application to the target species.
For additional information, visit the webpage www.invasoras.pt and/or contact us at
[email protected].
REFERENCES
Dana ED, Sanz-Elorza M, Vivas S, Sobrino E (2005) Especies vegetales invasoras en Andalucía. Consejería de
Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, 233pp.
Fagundes D, Az J, Beiras MB (2007) Bioloxía, distribución e métodos de control. Xunta de Galicia, Santiago de
Compostela, 209pp.
Marchante E, Freitas H, Marchante H (2008) Guia prático para a identificação de plantas invasoras de Portugal
Continental. Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, 183pp.
Silva L, Corvelo R, Moura M, Guerra AS, Fernandes FM (2008) Ipomoea indica (Burm. Fil.) Merr. In: Silva L,
Land EO, Luengo JLR (eds) Flora e fauna terrestre invasora na Macaronésia. Top 100 nos Açores, Madeira e
Canárias. Arena, Ponta Delgada, pp. 318- 321.
USDA, NRCS. (2012) The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Available: http:// plants.usda.gov [Retrieved 12/11/2012].
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