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Ipomoea aquatica

Forssk. (1775)

This name is accepted

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

swamp cabbage, ung choi, water morning glory, water spinach

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Vines.

Stems: Stems herbaceous to fleshy, hollow or spongy, rooting at the nodes when floating or procumbent on soil, up to 4 m or more long, glabrate.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades usually sagittate, the terminal lobe broadly to narrowly triangular or lanceolate, the basal lobes smaller, +/- spreading or very small and inconspicuous, 4–12 cm long. Apex acute to obtuse. Base acute, cordate to truncate, petiolate, subsessile, or sessile. Surfaces glabrate; blades chartaceous to nearly fleshy, partly depending on habitat, usually sagittate, the terminal lobe broadly to narrowly triangular or lanceolate, the basal lobes smaller, ± spreading or very small and inconspicuous, 4–12 cm long, glabrate. Margins entire or occasionally undulate. Petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers solitary or few in cymes, usually axillary, pedicels 20–70 mm long, bracts scale-like to foliose. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic, 5-merous. Calyx of 5 sepals, distinct, imbricate, herbaceous to subcoriaceous, somewhat fleshy, subequal, oblong–ovate, 6–7 mm long, glabrous, apex obtuse or subacute, mucronulate; often somewhat enlarging in fruit but not markedly accrescent, persistent, occasionally accrescent. Corolla of 5 fused petals; petals purple or rarely white, funnelform, 4–5 cm long. 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 to globose; 0.8–1 cm long; dehiscent by 4 valves or rarely 6 valves; or splitting irregularly. Seeds 1–4; densely soft pilose or glabrate; at least with age; endosperm absent or scanty; cartilaginous; cotyledons usually foliaceous.

Ploidy: 2n = 30

Habitat: Cultivated and sparingly naturalized in streams; ponds; and taro paddies.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Potentially naturalizing
Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Potentially naturalizing
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • 670 m
  • Description digitized by Kaleo
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • First recorded in l8l9 by Gaudichaud-Beauprd (St. John & Titcomb, 1983)
  • Introduced prior to l87l (Hillebrand, 1888)

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 44 (1775)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:555 (O, M); Imada et al. 2000:11 (H); Staples & Herbst 2005:247 (KEY, DESCR); Wagner et al. 2012:29 (Mi [treated as questionable as no spm. can be found]); Faccenda & Daehler 2024:34 (Mo); Holthuijzen 2017 (Mi†, 2008)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Ipomoea aquatica Kahuku. Preserved_Specimen Shitanishi, J. Oahu BISH 2009-05-19
2 Ipomoea aquatica Oahu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH
3 Ipomoea aquatica Oahu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH
4 Ipomoea aquatica Diamond Head Community Gardens, western slope Preserved_Specimen Mayeda, C.S. Oahu BISH 1990-11-25
5 Ipomoea aquatica Kahuku, along main road between railroad station and hospital in ditch Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6016 Oahu BISH 1931-02-28
6 Ipomoea aquatica Kailua rice field Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5995 Oahu BISH 1928-02-24
7 Ipomoea aquatica Honolulu, 1944 Manoa Rd full sun Preserved_Specimen decumbent herb; flowers white; odorless (morning) Lau, J. 1494 Oahu BISH 1985-10-07
8 Ipomoea aquatica Waipahu stream Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1278 Oahu BISH 1935-02-24
9 Ipomoea aquatica West side of Kawaimui Marsh, Kailua floating in open water Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 57432 Oahu BISH 1978-03-28
10 Ipomoea aquatica Near Haiku pond Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5999 Maui BISH 1927-09-01
11 Ipomoea aquatica Hamakua District, Waipio Valley, taro farm ca. 2 miles into the valley Weedy herbaceous vine in fallow wetland taro paddy with Nasturtium microphyllum, Polygonum punctatum. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9927 Hawaii BISH 1999-06-19
12 Ipomoea aquatica Kawainui Marsh, Kailua floating or climbing on swamp herbs Preserved_Specimen flower white St.John, H. 10519 Oahu BISH 1930-05-04
13 Ipomoea aquatica Morgan Toledo Taro Farm, Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii Growing in a taro loi in the front of the Toledo Home, cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Herbaceous vine, growing in water, trailing into pond and up onto bank. White flowers. Crago, L.M. 2005106 Hawaii BISH 2005-03-19
14 Ipomoea aquatica Rt 450, c.a. 3 km E of 'Ualapu'e Roadside ditch which is permanently flooded. Sunny area Preserved_Specimen Four large clumps found in this ditch growing as an emergent aquatic, covering about 10 sq meters. Rooting freely from the lower stems. Flowers white Faccenda, K. 2940 Molokai BISH 2022-12-29
15 Ipomoea aquatica 96727, Honokaa, HI, US UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Not found a country in reverser geocoding. Bioversity International C. R. Annable Maui HAPI 2/6/1999
16 Ipomoea aquatica Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, E of Kahului. VIP canal just off HWY 36 Preserved_Specimen Vine floating on water Annable, C.R. 3892 Maui BISH 1999-02-06
17 Ipomoea aquatica Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, E of Kahului. VIP canal just off HWY 36 UNKNOWN Maui HAPI 12/31/1989
18 Ipomoea aquatica Kahana Valley UNKNOWN Oahu HAPI 12/31/2005
19 Ipomoea aquatica Kapaa, farmers market Preserved_Specimen Stem hollow, pale green. Leaf: petiole pale green, blade above green or yellowish-green, dull, below silvery and glossy, with conspicuously raised veins. Corolla in bud white, shading to pale green toward apex; sepals with green with dull purple tint. Hume, L. 483 Kauai BISH 1990-02-28
20 Ipomoea aquatica Kahuku. Preserved_Specimen Shitanishi, J. Oahu BISH 2009-05-19
21 Ipomoea aquatica Oahu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH
22 Ipomoea aquatica Oahu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH
23 Ipomoea aquatica Diamond Head Community Gardens, western slope Preserved_Specimen Mayeda, C.S. Oahu BISH 1990-11-25
24 Ipomoea aquatica Kahuku, along main road between railroad station and hospital in ditch Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6016 Oahu BISH 1931-02-28
25 Ipomoea aquatica Kailua rice field Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5995 Oahu BISH 1928-02-24
26 Ipomoea aquatica Honolulu, 1944 Manoa Rd full sun Preserved_Specimen decumbent herb; flowers white; odorless (morning) Lau, J. 1494 Oahu BISH 1985-10-07
27 Ipomoea aquatica Waipahu stream Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1278 Oahu BISH 1935-02-24
28 Ipomoea aquatica West side of Kawaimui Marsh, Kailua floating in open water Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 57432 Oahu BISH 1978-03-28
29 Ipomoea aquatica Near Haiku pond Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5999 Maui BISH 1927-09-01
30 Ipomoea aquatica Hamakua District, Waipio Valley, taro farm ca. 2 miles into the valley Weedy herbaceous vine in fallow wetland taro paddy with Nasturtium microphyllum, Polygonum punctatum. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9927 Hawaii BISH 1999-06-19
31 Ipomoea aquatica Kawainui Marsh, Kailua floating or climbing on swamp herbs Preserved_Specimen flower white St.John, H. 10519 Oahu BISH 1930-05-04
32 Ipomoea aquatica Morgan Toledo Taro Farm, Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii Growing in a taro loi in the front of the Toledo Home, cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Herbaceous vine, growing in water, trailing into pond and up onto bank. White flowers. Crago, L.M. 2005106 Hawaii BISH 2005-03-19
33 Ipomoea aquatica Rt 450, c.a. 3 km E of 'Ualapu'e Roadside ditch which is permanently flooded. Sunny area Preserved_Specimen Four large clumps found in this ditch growing as an emergent aquatic, covering about 10 sq meters. Rooting freely from the lower stems. Flowers white Faccenda, K. 2940 Molokai BISH 2022-12-29
34 Ipomoea aquatica 96727, Honokaa, HI, US UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Not found a country in reverser geocoding. Bioversity International C. R. Annable Maui HAPI 2/6/1999
35 Ipomoea aquatica Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, E of Kahului. VIP canal just off HWY 36 Preserved_Specimen Vine floating on water Annable, C.R. 3892 Maui BISH 1999-02-06
36 Ipomoea aquatica Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, E of Kahului. VIP canal just off HWY 36 UNKNOWN Maui HAPI 12/31/1989
37 Ipomoea aquatica Kahana Valley UNKNOWN Oahu HAPI 12/31/2005
38 Ipomoea aquatica Kapaa, farmers market Preserved_Specimen Stem hollow, pale green. Leaf: petiole pale green, blade above green or yellowish-green, dull, below silvery and glossy, with conspicuously raised veins. Corolla in bud white, shading to pale green toward apex; sepals with green with dull purple tint. Hume, L. 483 Kauai BISH 1990-02-28
39 Ipomoea aquatica Kahuku. Preserved_Specimen Shitanishi, J. Oahu BISH 2009-05-19
40 Ipomoea aquatica Oahu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH
41 Ipomoea aquatica Oahu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH
42 Ipomoea aquatica Diamond Head Community Gardens, western slope Preserved_Specimen Mayeda, C.S. Oahu BISH 1990-11-25
43 Ipomoea aquatica Kahuku, along main road between railroad station and hospital in ditch Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6016 Oahu BISH 1931-02-28
44 Ipomoea aquatica Kailua rice field Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5995 Oahu BISH 1928-02-24
45 Ipomoea aquatica Honolulu, 1944 Manoa Rd full sun Preserved_Specimen decumbent herb; flowers white; odorless (morning) Lau, J. 1494 Oahu BISH 1985-10-07
46 Ipomoea aquatica Waipahu stream Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1278 Oahu BISH 1935-02-24
47 Ipomoea aquatica West side of Kawaimui Marsh, Kailua floating in open water Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 57432 Oahu BISH 1978-03-28
48 Ipomoea aquatica Near Haiku pond Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5999 Maui BISH 1927-09-01
49 Ipomoea aquatica Hamakua District, Waipio Valley, taro farm ca. 2 miles into the valley Weedy herbaceous vine in fallow wetland taro paddy with Nasturtium microphyllum, Polygonum punctatum. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9927 Hawaii BISH 1999-06-19
50 Ipomoea aquatica Kawainui Marsh, Kailua floating or climbing on swamp herbs Preserved_Specimen flower white St.John, H. 10519 Oahu BISH 1930-05-04
51 Ipomoea aquatica Morgan Toledo Taro Farm, Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii Growing in a taro loi in the front of the Toledo Home, cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Herbaceous vine, growing in water, trailing into pond and up onto bank. White flowers. Crago, L.M. 2005106 Hawaii BISH 2005-03-19
52 Ipomoea aquatica Rt 450, c.a. 3 km E of 'Ualapu'e Roadside ditch which is permanently flooded. Sunny area Preserved_Specimen Four large clumps found in this ditch growing as an emergent aquatic, covering about 10 sq meters. Rooting freely from the lower stems. Flowers white Faccenda, K. 2940 Molokai BISH 2022-12-29
53 Ipomoea aquatica 96727, Honokaa, HI, US UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Not found a country in reverser geocoding. Bioversity International C. R. Annable Maui HAPI 2/6/1999
54 Ipomoea aquatica Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, E of Kahului. VIP canal just off HWY 36 Preserved_Specimen Vine floating on water Annable, C.R. 3892 Maui BISH 1999-02-06
55 Ipomoea aquatica Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, E of Kahului. VIP canal just off HWY 36 UNKNOWN Maui HAPI 12/31/1989
56 Ipomoea aquatica Kahana Valley UNKNOWN Oahu HAPI 12/31/2005
57 Ipomoea aquatica Kapaa, farmers market Preserved_Specimen Stem hollow, pale green. Leaf: petiole pale green, blade above green or yellowish-green, dull, below silvery and glossy, with conspicuously raised veins. Corolla in bud white, shading to pale green toward apex; sepals with green with dull purple tint. Hume, L. 483 Kauai BISH 1990-02-28
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