Convolvulaceae

Morning Glory Family

By: George Rogers

A family of some 1000 species and about 45 genera made up mostly of twining vines and with herbs, shrubs, and trees. Many weeds.  Leaves alternate, often arrowhead- or heart-shaped. Flowers radially symmetrical, usually funnel-shaped, tending to be twisted in the bud.  Ovary superior with 2 chambers. Ovules 2/chamber. (Data in part from BA1.)

            Members of the Convolvulaceae may be familiar to South Florida horticulture as Bindweeds (Convolvulus species) in addition to the cultivated species. Dodders (Cuscuta) are parasitic members of the family, although most of the parasitic vines seen around South Florida are Love Vine, Cassytha filiformis L., in the Lauraceae.

Key to Convolvulaceae Cultivated in South Florida

1. Leaf blades divided into narrow, threadlike segments; flowers scarlet…Cypress-Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit)

1. Leaf blades entire…2

2. Plants shrubs multiple feet tall…Bush Morning Glory (Ipomoea carnea)

2. Plants ground covers or vines (may be small shrubs on the order of 1.5’ tall)…3

3. Rampant, ground-covering, large, aggressive vines, often with extreme leaf colors, the leaves            often (not always) more or less arrowhead-shaped…Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)

3. Climbing vines or ground covers…4

4. Plants small (<1.5’), shrubby ground covers; flowers blue…Blue Daze (Evolvulus glomeratus)

4. Plants vines; flowers variable in color (rarely blue)…5

5. Leaves silvery beneath…Baby Woodrose (Argyreia nervosa)

5. Leaves not silvery beneath…6

6. Flowers blue, < 1” diam…Blue Jacquemontia (Jacquemontia pentanthos)

6. Flower colors usually purplish (including blue), > 1” diam…Purple Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea) (Ipomoea tricolor has sky-blue flowers fading to violet.)