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Ipomoea tuboides

O.Deg. & Ooststr. (1940)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Solanales Family: Convolvulaceae Genus: Ipomoea

Hawaiian moon flower

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennial vines.

Stems: Stems green or often brownish red with small green protuberances, prostrate or twining, slender, woody near base, glabrous except on youngest parts.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades chartaceous, cordate to broadly ovate, 10–15 cm long and wide. Apex obtuse and mucronulate. Base cordate. Surfaces glabrous. Margins entire, toothed, or lobed. Petioles 5–10 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers solitary, usually axillary; peduncles longer than leaves, pedicels 50–80 mm long; bracts scale-like to foliose. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic, 5-merous. Calyx of 5 sepals, distinct, imbricate, herbaceous to subcoriaceous, subequal, oblong, erect in flower, reflexed in fruit, outer ones 9–15 mm long, inner ones 15–22 mm long, apex obtuse to acute, often mucronulate, glabrous to pubescent, often somewhat enlarging in fruit but not markedly accrescent, persistent, occasionally accrescent. Corolla of 5 fused petals; petals white at night while blooming, lavender when wilted, salverform, the tube 6–8 cm long, less than 0.5 cm in diameter, the limb campanulate campanulate to subrotate, 7–8 cm in diameter, glabrous. Stamens 5, distinct; included or rarely exserted; filaments inserted on corolla tube base alternate with corolla lobes; anthers dithecal, usually linear or oblong, extrorse. Ovary superior, 2–4-carpellate, usually with as many cells, placentation basal or basal-axile; ovules 2(4, 6) per cell, or ovary 1-celled and ovules 4, these erect, anatropous; style 1, filiform, simple or bifid, or sometimes with 2 distinct style; stigma globose or 2–3-lobed, the lobes globose.

Fruit: Capsules brown; ovoid; 1–2 cm long; glabrous; dehiscent by 4 valves or rarely 6 valves; or splitting irregularly. Seeds 1–4; dark brown; ovoid; trigonous; 12–16 mm long; pubescent with short erect hairs; endosperm absent or scanty; cartilaginous; cotyledons usually foliaceous.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Occurring on arid rocky talus slopes or 'a'a lava.

Elevation Range: 0–610 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Endemic
Kaua'i Endemic
O'ahu Endemic
Molokai Endemic
Lana'i Endemic
Kaho'olawe Endemic
Maui Endemic
Hawai'i Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. Hawaiiensis 307: s.p. (1940)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:560 (Ni, K, O, Mo, L, M, Ka, H); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:168 (remove Ni [no evidence of presence]); Degener 5978 US (K†, 1932); Hank Oppenheimer pers. obs/Wood 1140 PTBG (Ka†, 2005)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Ipomoea tuboides Kahoolawe Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Kahoolawe BISH 1913-02-10
2 Ipomoea tuboides East Molokai, Kamiloloa Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2352 Molokai BISH 1985-04-17
3 Ipomoea tuboides Kanepuu Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 945 Lanai BISH 1929-12-31
4 Ipomoea tuboides his garden Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5980 Oahu BISH 1932-04-18
5 Ipomoea tuboides Honolulu, Diamond Head, Na Laau Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 6 Oahu BISH 1958-02-01
6 Ipomoea tuboides Waimea Drainage Basin, W side Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1078 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
7 Ipomoea tuboides Waimea Drainage Basin, W side Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1078 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
8 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 8698 Maui BISH 1910-11-01
9 Ipomoea tuboides Lanai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 488 Lanai BISH
10 Ipomoea tuboides Malauea Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 104 Lanai BISH 1914-03-05
11 Ipomoea tuboides Kahoolawe Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Kahoolawe BISH 1913-02-10
12 Ipomoea tuboides Kahoolawe Preserved_Specimen Wilder, G.P. Kahoolawe BISH 1913-01-01
13 Ipomoea tuboides Honolulu, Diamond Head, Ke Kuaaina, Na Laau Preserved_Specimen Munro, H. Oahu BISH 1963-01-30
14 Ipomoea tuboides Malauea Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1915-12-31
15 Ipomoea tuboides Ke Kuaaina, Na Laau Hawaii, Diamond Head Preserved_Specimen Imura, R. Oahu BISH 1963-02-02
16 Ipomoea tuboides Maunalei Road Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1915-06-02
17 Ipomoea tuboides Olokele Preserved_Specimen Lydgate, J.M. Kauai BISH 1911-11-01
18 Ipomoea tuboides Miki Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1916-04-01
19 Ipomoea tuboides West Molokai, near Kamakaipo arid Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5989 Molokai BISH 1928-05-16
20 Ipomoea tuboides Lanai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH
21 Ipomoea tuboides his garden Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5980 Oahu BISH 1932-04-18
22 Ipomoea tuboides Lanai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 488 Lanai BISH
23 Ipomoea tuboides Kanepuu Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 306 Lanai BISH 1928-03-07
24 Ipomoea tuboides W Maui, Lahaina District, Lihau Lowland Dry Forest at 1350 ft on a north facing slope with Erythrina, Diospyros, Canthium, Leucaena, Achyranthes, Sida, Alyxia, Plumbago, Chenopodium, Myoporum, Peperomia, and an assortment of alien grasses and herbs Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 1364 Maui BISH 1991-10-27
25 Ipomoea tuboides North face of Nohonaohae In an area 100' x 100' by gully (south side). Ipomoea congesta also in the vicinity. Preserved_Specimen A large amount of variation is seen in the Ipomoea leaves. This is one shape. Corn, C. Hawaii BISH 1980-01-13
26 Ipomoea tuboides E of South Point Growing over aa lava in arid region. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6009 Hawaii BISH 1929-09-16
27 Ipomoea tuboides W Maui, Lahaina District, Kauaula Valley, S slope Locally common on steep rocky slopes, climbing adjacent vegetation. Vegetation: Metrosideros, Sophora, Nestegis, Coprosma, Dodonaea, Pipturus, Achyranthes, Diospyros, Myrsine, Melicope, Pleomele, Remya, Dryopteris, Senna, Ipomoea, Neraudia, Lysimachia, Wikstroemia, Osteomeles, Trisetum, Panicum, Microlepia, Eragrostis, Alyxia, Lipochaeta, Bidens, Peperomia, Ageratina, Lantana, Grevillea, Conyza, Petroselinum Preserved_Specimen Vine. Flowers white, closing by mid-morning; younger stems trailing and with copious white sap when cut; young leaves quite variable in shape Oppenheimer, H.L. 41334 Maui BISH 2013-04-24
28 Ipomoea tuboides Kaumalapau, side of The bigger lvs from the pineapple fields a few miles away on the S side of Lanai. Preserved_Specimen Seed furry, black. Munro, G.C. 1 Lanai BISH
29 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, Puu o kali lava flows Preserved_Specimen leaves digitate, pubescent Hobdy, R.W. 1900 Maui BISH 1984-01-13
30 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, 3/4 mi E of Lialailua Road which encircles base of Haleakala dry lava rocks Preserved_Specimen vine Wilson, K.A. 819 Maui BISH 1951-12-26
31 Ipomoea tuboides W Makakupaia Ridge pocket of soil among large boulders, open, mixed scrub Preserved_Specimen Char, W.P. 82.052 Molokai BISH 1982-11-28
32 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, Puu o kali lava flows Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 1901 Maui BISH 1984-01-13
33 Ipomoea tuboides Manawahinui Gulch sun-scorched talus near ocean Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 21974 Maui BISH 1952-02-27
34 Ipomoea tuboides Kaa Ahupuaa, Along kaena Road. Dry exotic grassland with mixed native and exotic shrubs. Preserved_Specimen Flowers long and white. Warshauer, F.R. 2184 Lanai BISH 1979-04-02
35 Ipomoea tuboides W Maui, mauka of McGregor among rocks with pili and Sida Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 22098 Maui BISH 1952-03-09
36 Ipomoea tuboides W Maui, Lahaina District, Lihau Lowland Dry Forest at 1350 ft on a north facing slope with Erythrina, Diospyros, Canthium, Leucaena, Achyranthes, Sida, Alyxia, Plumbago, Chenopodium, Myoporum, Peperomia, and an assortment of alien grasses and herbs Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 1362 Maui BISH 1991-10-27
37 Ipomoea tuboides S, near wharf arid pili grass slope Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 21987 Lanai BISH 1952-03-02
38 Ipomoea tuboides W Maui, mauka of McGregor among rocks with pili and Sida Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 22098 Maui BISH 1952-03-09
39 Ipomoea tuboides Between Waiohinu and Kaalualu Growing over aa lava. Preserved_Specimen Fls. white, night blooming. Degener, O. 5988 Hawaii BISH 1929-09-13
40 Ipomoea tuboides Kamakou Preserve, Kawela Section, Onini Gulch near bridge Vine climbing on molasses grass in distrubed area near dry streambed Preserved_Specimen Flowers white, open in morning Cuddihy, L.W. 1218 Molokai BISH 1982-05-28
41 Ipomoea tuboides Puuwaawaa, in the 1986 burn area, transect T18 near the junction with T25 Remnant dryland community. Preserved_Specimen Common liane draped over fire-killed snags; flowers white or light blue. Takeuchi, W.N. 5794 Hawaii BISH 1989-05-03
42 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, 3/4 mi E of Lialailua Road which encircles base of Haleakala dry lava rocks Preserved_Specimen vine Wilson, K.A. 819 Maui BISH 1951-12-26
43 Ipomoea tuboides Manawahinui Gulch sun-scorched talus near ocean Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 21174 Maui BISH 1952-02-27
44 Ipomoea tuboides Between Waiohinu and Kaalualu Growing over aa lava. Preserved_Specimen Fls. white, night blooming. Degener, O. 5988 Hawaii BISH 1929-09-13
45 Ipomoea tuboides Puu Koae Islet Covering the W slope. Preserved_Specimen Stems and lvs quite succulent (more so than those I have seen on Maui). Hobdy, R.W. 1958 Kahoolawe BISH 1984-02-11
46 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, Hana District, Alena, 3/4 mi E of Lualailua Hills on dry aa and Opuntia Preserved_Specimen vine St.John, H. 24741 Maui BISH 1951-12-26
47 Ipomoea tuboides Puu Koae Islet Covering the W slope. Preserved_Specimen Stems and lvs quite succulent (more so than those I have seen on Maui). Hobdy, R.W. 1958 Kahoolawe BISH 1984-02-11
48 Ipomoea tuboides 20mi from Waimea towards Kona In aa lava desert. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6019 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-20
49 Ipomoea tuboides W Maui, Lahaina District, Kauaula Valley, S slope Locally common on steep rocky slopes, climbing adjacent vegetation. Vegetation: Metrosideros, Sophora, Nestegis, Coprosma, Dodonaea, Pipturus, Achyranthes, Diospyros, Myrsine, Melicope, Pleomele, Remya, Dryopteris, Senna, Ipomoea, Neraudia, Lysimachia, Wikstroemia, Osteomeles, Trisetum, Panicum, Microlepia, Eragrostis, Alyxia, Lipochaeta, Bidens, Peperomia, Ageratina, Lantana, Grevillea, Conyza, Petroselinum Preserved_Specimen Vine. Flowers white, closing by mid-morning; younger stems trailing and with copious white sap when cut; young leaves quite variable in shape Oppenheimer, H.L. 41334 Maui BISH 2013-04-24
50 Ipomoea tuboides Manawahinui Gulch sun-scorched talus near ocean Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 21174 Maui BISH 1952-02-27
51 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, above Kihei near, Puu o Kali cone lava flows Preserved_Specimen variations in leaf pattern; white night blooming flowers that wilt in the morning sun Hobdy, R.W. 1012 Maui BISH 1981-03-05
52 Ipomoea tuboides Between Ilio Point and the main road Growing into a kiawe tree. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Molokai BISH 1982-05-17
53 Ipomoea tuboides Moaula area Amongst boulders by Erythrina trees. Twining around Andropogon pertusus. Preserved_Specimen Vine. Char, W.P. 78.05 Kahoolawe BISH 1978-11-23
54 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, Hana District, Auwahi Lantana, Opuntia, Ipomoea confusa; on aa lava and dead tree stump Preserved_Specimen flowers white; stem milky juice Pearsall, G.A. 67 Maui BISH 1955-12-30
55 Ipomoea tuboides Kiei Islet; N side of islet Rare. Two healthy patches observed, one on lowest terrace on N side of islet and one on the upper terrace on the N side of the islet. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 6040603 Lanai BISH 2006-04-06
56 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, Kahikinui over aa lava and bushes; dry Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 19402 Maui BISH 1948-12-22
57 Ipomoea tuboides W Maui, Lahaina District, Olowalu, slopes of Lihau Locally common, growing in areas recently burned. Vegetation: Dodonaea, Sida, Euchiton, Cenchrus, Spermolepis, Eragrostis, Heteropogon, Waltheria. Preserved_Specimen Vines, flowers white, open until touched by direct sunlight. Oppenheimer, H.L. 20802 Maui BISH 2008-02-13
58 Ipomoea tuboides Between Puuwaawaa and Huehue In aa lava desert. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6020 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-18
59 Ipomoea tuboides Makawao District, SW coast near Hanakanaea. Collected near Navy Base Prosopis-Cenchrus lowland dry forest. Assoc. plants: Jacquemontia ovalifolia, Tragus berteronianus, Gossypium tomentosum, Boerhavia repens, Macroptilium lathyroides, Sida fallax, Portulaca oleracea, Chenopodium murale, Atriplex semibaccata, Ipomoea cairica, Chamaesyce hirta, Abutilon incanum, Heteropogon contortus, Bothriochloa pertusa, Waltheria indica. Preserved_Specimen Crawling vine covering 3 sq. m area; in flower, corolla white. Wood, K.R. 1648 Kahoolawe BISH 1992-02-24
60 Ipomoea tuboides Between Puuwaawaa and Huehue In aa lava desert. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6020 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-18
61 Ipomoea tuboides Puu Koae Island off the south coast of Kahoolawe. Several of these vines scattered over this rocky islet's steep slopes. Preserved_Specimen No flowers present. Noted one vine's root, which had been exposed by erosion and was 3 inches in diameter x 2 ft long, an admirable adaptation for storing water in this dry environment. Hobdy, R.W. 1034 Kahoolawe BISH 1981-03-21
62 Ipomoea tuboides Kamiloloa forest reserve Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2348 Molokai BISH 1985-04-17
63 Ipomoea tuboides Kalaeahole mauka arid, sun-scorched rock crevice Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 24211 Lanai BISH 1957-08-11
64 Ipomoea tuboides ~1.5 km E of W end of Kona Hwy., ~300 m SW of Keamuku Flow, ~300 m SSE of Boundary burn area; aa, gentle slope; Pennisetum setaceum, Dodonaea viscosa Preserved_Specimen Close, B. 109428 Hawaii BISH 1994-10-29
65 Ipomoea tuboides Tip of Kaena Point halfway up to plateau Among arid rocks. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5981 Oahu BISH 1932-04-27
66 Ipomoea tuboides Central-western part of island. Below Lua Kealialalo Growing in bare rocky areas in Prosopis pallida scrub w. Heteropogon contortus. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate vine, no flowers. Cuddihy, L.W. 361 Kahoolawe BISH 1980-04-22
67 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, above Kihei near, Puu o Kali cone lava flows Preserved_Specimen variations in leaf pattern; white night blooming flowers that wilt in the morning sun Hobdy, R.W. 1012 Maui BISH 1981-03-05
68 Ipomoea tuboides Between Puuwaawaa and Huehue Growing over aa lava. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6006 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-22
69 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, above Kalama Park, Kihei dry lava plains; over ilima Preserved_Specimen scrambling vine; very small leaves Hobdy, R.W. 871 Maui BISH 1980-08-06
70 Ipomoea tuboides Tip of Kaena Point halfway up to plateau Among arid rocks. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5981 Oahu BISH 1932-04-27
71 Ipomoea tuboides Between Waiohinu and Kaalualu Dry forest, aa waste. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5982 Hawaii BISH 1929-09-12
72 Ipomoea tuboides Lapaiki over Sida and pili grass Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 32411 Lanai BISH 1964-01-31
73 Ipomoea tuboides West Maui, above Lahainaluna Preserved_Specimen highly lobed to digitate form Hobdy, R.W. 2466 Maui BISH 1985-12-17
74 Ipomoea tuboides Near Barbers Point arid, raised fossil reef Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5977 Oahu BISH 1932-05-08
75 Ipomoea tuboides Kaena Point Preserved_Specimen flowers purplish-pink on wilting Degener, O. 5978 Oahu BISH 1932-01-31
76 Ipomoea tuboides Maluea Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 489 Lanai BISH 1930-01-09
77 Ipomoea tuboides W Maui, Lahaina District, Lihau Lowland Dry Forest at 1400 ft under an Erythrina canopy on a north slope with Sida, Dodonaea, Myoporum, Leucaena, Diospyros and annual grasses and herbs Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 1532 Maui BISH 1992-02-15
78 Ipomoea tuboides Kaena Point Preserved_Specimen flowers purplish-pink on wilting Degener, O. 5978 Oahu BISH 1932-01-31
79 Ipomoea tuboides Makawao District, Aleale stack, near Puu Koae Mixed native coastal shrubland w. Portulaca molokiniensis, P. villosa, Senna gaudichaudii, Chamaesyce celastroides var. amplectens, Mariscus phleoides subsp. phleoides, Capparis, Lipochaeta lavarum, Bidens mauiensis, Sida fallax, Dryopteris decipiens, Panicum torridum, P. fauriei var. latius, Heteropogon contortus, Eragrostis atropioides. Indications of Bulwers Petrel & Wedgetail Shearwater nesting sites. Weeds: Waltheria, Emilia fosbergii, Chloris barbata, Nicotiana glauca. Preserved_Specimen Collected in fruit; scandant and vigorous throughout. Wood, K.R. 2011 Kahoolawe BISH 1992-07-14
80 Ipomoea tuboides West Maui, Honokowai arid slope, Lipochaeta and Sida Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 25100 Maui BISH 1959-03-27
81 Ipomoea tuboides Poopoo Islet, 100 yds off S shore Sida, Lipochaeta lavarum, L. heterophylla, Portulaca villosa, Panicum, Heteropogon contortus, Chloris, Cenchrus ciliaris Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 9741 Lanai BISH 1982-04-05
82 Ipomoea tuboides Between Waiohinu and Kaalualu Dry forest, aa waste. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5982 Hawaii BISH 1929-09-12
83 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, S slope of Haleakala, Auwahi forest Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2130 Maui BISH 1920-03-30
84 Ipomoea tuboides Kealia Trail, Kawaihapai over bushes Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 27905 Oahu BISH 1962-03-30
85 Ipomoea tuboides Maunalei Road Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1915-06-02
86 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, S slope of Haleakala, Auwahi forest Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2131 Maui BISH 1920-03-30
87 Ipomoea tuboides West Maui, above Lahainaluna Preserved_Specimen slightly lobed to entire Hobdy, R.W. 2467 Maui BISH 1985-12-17
88 Ipomoea tuboides Tip of Kaena Point halfway up to plateau Among arid rocks. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5981 Oahu BISH 1932-04-27
89 Ipomoea tuboides East Maui, Puu o kali lava flows Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 1902 Maui BISH 1984-01-13
90 Ipomoea tuboides C5 along main rd Preserved_Specimen Flowers white, soon closing. Char, W.P. 78.076 Kahoolawe BISH 1978-11-26
91 Ipomoea tuboides Wai`anae Mountains, Kealia Trail above Dillingham Airfield. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5318 Oahu BISH 1984-03-02
92 Ipomoea tuboides Coral Flats Preserved_Specimen flowers white Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH 1957-02-24
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