Ipomoea macrorhiza

Michaux

Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 141. 1803.

Common names: Large-root morning glory
Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 14.

Perennials, root relatively large, tuberlike. Stems trailing or twining. Leaf blades ovate, triangular-ovate, or 3-lobed, 50–150 × 50–150 mm, base cordate to sagittate or truncate, margins ± crenulate, surfaces: abaxial tomentulose, adaxial gla­brous, minutely beaded along veinlets. Peduncles tomentulose. Flowers noc­turnal; sepals oblong-elliptic, 16–18 mm, coriaceous, sericeous; corolla white, throat lavender to purple inside, salverform, 50–80 mm.


Phenology: Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat: Beaches, clearings, dunes.
Elevation: 0–40 m.

Distribution

Ala., Fla., Ga., Miss., N.C., S.C.

Discussion

Ipomoea macrorhiza has been confused with the Mexican and Central American I. jalapa (Linnaeus) Pursh; I. macrorhiza differs by having nocturnal, moth-pollinated flowers with white corollas versus matinal, bee-pollinated flowers with lavender corollas.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.