CHAPTER XXXVII 

 CONVOLVULACE^ (Morning Glory FamUy) 



corolla 

 tube 



-^'■slarmn 



The representatives of this family are found chiefly in warm 

 climates. There are close to 900 species in 400 genera. A 

 number are of economic importance, among which may be 

 mentioned the sweet potato, 

 man-of-the-earth {Ipomcea pan- 

 durata), used as food by the 

 Indians, moon-flower {Ipomoda 

 hona-nox) , morning glory 

 {Ipomcea purpurea), cypress vine 

 {Quamoclit quamoclit) and the 

 bindweeds {Convolvulus spp.). 



Habit. — Most of the repre- 

 sentatives of this family are 

 twining or trailing herbs; some 

 tropical species are shrubs or 

 trees, often with a milky juice. 

 Leaves. — The leaves are alter- 

 nate, exstipulate, entire, den- 

 tate, lobed, or dissected. 

 Inflorescence and Flowers. — The flowers are in an axil- 

 lary cyme, or sometimes soHtary. They are regular, perfect 

 and sympetalous (Fig. 228). The calyx is attached below 

 the ovary, five-parted or five-divided, usually persistent, aiid 

 imbricated in .the bud. The corolla is plaited, convolute, or 

 twisted in the bud, and becomes funnel-form, salver-form, 

 campanulate, or tubular, with a five-angled, or five-lobed, or 

 entire limb (Fig. 228). The five stamens are inserted on the 

 554 



-ovari) 

 cohx 



Fig. 228. — Flower of sweet 

 potato (Ipomoea batatas), length- 

 wise section. (After Sargent-) 



