Practical
Plants

Ipomoea nil

Japanese Morning Glory

an annual member of the Ipomoea genus in the family Convolvulaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Ipomoea
Life cycle
annual
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed is anthelmintic, anticholinergic, antifungal, antispasmodic, antitumour, diuretic and laxative[1][7]. It is used in the treatment of oedema, oliguria, ascariasis and constipation[1]. The seed is also used as a contraceptive in Korea[7]. The seed contains small quantities of the hallucinogen LSD[2][3]. This has been used medicinally in the treatment of various mental disorders. The pounded plant is used as a hair wash to rid the hair of lice[6].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Hallucinogenic
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Parasiticide
Product or use
Antifungal
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Antitumor

Environment

Range
Pantropical.
Habitat
Thickets on mountain slopes, waysides, fields and hedges from sea level to 1600 metres in China[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water, or scarify the seed, and sow in individual pots in a greenhouse in early spring. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 22°c. Plants are extremely resentful of root disturbance, even when they are quite small, and should be potted up almost as soon as they germinate[3]. Grow them on fast in the greenhouse and plant them out into their permanent positions after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away actively.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a fertile well-drained loam in a sunny position[2]. The plant is not frost hardy, but can be grown outdoors as a tender annual in temperate zones[2]. A very ornamental plant, there are several named varieties[2]. Closely related to I. purpurea[4].

References

  1. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩

  5. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  6. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩

  7. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2

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