Plant of the month June,2008
Eng (thai)

 

 

Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Cat. Pl. Cub. 203. 1866.
Convolvulaceae

Description: Prostrate herbs to ca 5 m long, rooting at nodes. Leaves alternate, simple or 3–5-lobed, ovate, oblong to lanceolate, 1.5–3 cm long; apex obtuse, shallowly bilobed or emaginate; base truncate or shallowly cordate; margin entire; middle lobe ovate to oblong, lateral lobes smaller; petiole 0.5–4 cm. Inflorescences with single flower or 2–3 together; peduncle ca 2 cm long; bracts deltoid, ca 2 mm long; pedicel 0.7–1.5 cm. Flowers infundibular. Sepals 5, oblong, unequal, outer 2 sepals 7–11 mm long; inner ones to ca 1.5 cm long. Corolla shallowly 5-lobed, glabrous, white, occasionally with dark red center, 3.5–4 cm, tube pale yellow. Stamens 5, filament filiform, unequal, included. Ovary glabrous; style included; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule subglobose, glabrous, ca 1 cm diam. Seeds tomentose, ca 0.8 cm diam., margins with long hairs.

Distribution: Widely distributed in tropic, coastal beaches and grasslands, under 100 m.

Notes: Last updated on 27 December 2016.

Thai name: Phak bung thale khao (ผักบุ้งทะเลขาว)

Photos: Rachun Pooma (Bangberd, Chumphon)

References: 
Fang, R. and G. Staples. 1995. Convolvulaceae. In Flora of China Vol. 16: 308.