CHAPTER XXXVII 



CONVOLVULACE^ (Morning Glory Family) 



corolla 

 me 

 —stigma 



■slainen 



The representatives of this family are found chiefly in warm 

 cUmates. 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 (Jpomoea pan- 

 durata), used as food by the 

 Indians, moon-flower {Ipomma 

 bona-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, and 

 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 



orary 



— Cfl/UA 



Fig. 228. — Flower of sweet 

 potato (Ipotncea batatas) , length- 

 wise section. (After Sargent.) 



