IPOMOEA INDICA

Family:- CONVOLVULACEAE/Sect. IPOMOEA

Common Names:- Blue dawn flower

Synonyms:- Convolvulus indicus, Pharbitis indica.

Meaning:- Ipomoea (Gr) Resembling a worm (reference to the twining stems).

Indica (L) From India, Indian, Used loosely for the Orient.

General description:- Perennial plant.

Stems:-

1) Long procumbent or climbing.

Leaves:-

1) Broad-ovate, 4-17 cm long, 3-15 cm wide, acuminate, cordate, margins entire to

deeply 3-lobed, upper surface with short hairs close to the stem, lower surface

silky, densely covered in soft hairs.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, 2 to many-flowered, terminally congested with conspicuous

bracteoles.

2) Corolla large, infundibuliform, violet-blue with paler mid-petaline bands and darker

throat, glabrous.

3) Tube 5.5-7.5cm long; limb 6.5-8cm diam.

4) Sepals acute to long-acuminate, finely pubescent, without bristles.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule depressed-rounded, approx 10 mm diam., 3-celled (locular).

Key features:-

1) Sepals acute to long-acuminate, finely pubescent, without bristles.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Naturalised along hedgerows, fences, and in scrub, or on cultivated or

waste ground. 0-700 m. or higher

Distribution:- Widespread and common throughout the Mediterranean. Widespread

and common on Crete (introduced).

Flowering time:- Jan-Dec.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton