Ipomoea

Lore & Background

The genus Ipomoea was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It has 642 accepted species. The type species is Ipomoea pes-tigridis. Within the family Convolvulaceae, it is placed in the tribe Ipomoeeae. The name Ipomoea is derived from the Ancient Greek meaning 'resembling' and refers to their twining habit. Moon vine (I. alba) sap was used for vulcanization of the latex of Castilla elastica to rubber; as it happens, the rubber tree seems well-suited for the vine to twine upon, and the two species are often found together. As early as 1600 BCE, the Olmecs produced the balls used in the Mesoamerican ballgame.

Reader's Guide

Ipomoea are annual or perennial twining, prostrate or erect, herbs, shrubs, lianas, or trees usually with twining or trailing stems bearing simple, or rarely compound leaves. The few- to many-flowered, axillary, solitary or cymose inflorescences bear small to large, blue, red, pink, purple, white, orange, or yellow, pentamerous flowers. The species of Ipomoea interfere with each other's pollination. Pollen from different species compete in each other's reproductive processes, imposing a fitness cost. Humans use Ipomoea spp. for their content of medical and psychoactive compounds, mainly alkaloids. Some species are renowned for their properties in folk medicine and herbalism. The leaves of I. batatas are eaten as a vegetable. Seeds of Mexican morning glory (tlitliltzin, I. tricolor) were used by Aztecs and Zapotecs in shamanistic and priestly divination rituals. Beach moonflower (I. violacea) was also used thusly. Ergoline alkaloids occur in several Ipomoea species whose seeds host heritable Periglandula fungi. Seeds of I. tricolour commonly contain lysergamides such as ergine (D-lysergic acid amide, LSA) and its epimer isoergine; other reported alkaloids include lysergol, lysergic acid hydroxyethylamide (LSH), and ergometrine (ergonovine). Human data indicate that LSA produces comparatively mild psychedelic effects with prominent sedation; adverse effects frequently include nausea and vasoconstriction. Albert Hofmann and colleagues first isolated lysergamides from I. corymbosa and I. violacea seeds and reported early human observations. Analytical studies of Ipomoea seeds have generally found ergometrine at lower concentrations than LSA, and note that LSH is labile and can rearrange to LSA during extraction or storage. The subjective effects of morning glory seeds vary with species, alkaloid profile, preparation and dose.

Did You Know?

• Ipomoea sepiaria is part of the Dashapushpam (Ten sacred flowers) in Kerala and is known as 'Thiruthali' in Malayalam.
• Vera Cruz jalap (I. jalapa) and Tampico jalap (I. simulans) are used to produce jalap, a cathartic preparation accelerating the passage of stool.
• Kiribadu ala (giant potato, I. mauritiana) is one of the many ingredients of chyawanprash, the ancient Ayurvedic tonic called 'the elixir of life'.