IPOMCEA 



IPOMCEA 



815 



tion, Mina, Pharbitis and f^fitdiiioclif. Convolvaldce(e. 

 Mckning-Glory. Moonflowek. Over 300 species of 

 annual or perennial herbs, mostly twining, rarely trees 

 (G.F. 7:364) or shrubs, widely distributed in tropical and 

 temperate regions. They are remarkable for easy cul- 

 ture, quick growth and beautiful tlowers; hence the 

 genus includes several of our most popular plants for 

 covering verandas and screening unsightly objects. 



The generic characters of Ipomcea ai'e not clearly 

 deHued. The list of synonyms given above is a record 

 of unsuccessful attempts to hnd constant characters by 

 wliich this large and variable genus may be separated 

 into smaller and more definite groups. It is distinguished 

 from Convolvulus, its nearest ally, by having but 1 capi- 

 tate or '2-3 globose stigmas, while Convolvulus has "2 

 linear or ovate stigmas. Stem mostly slender, twining 

 or climbing, sometimes prostrate, diffuse or erect ; 

 leaves alternate, entire, lobed or parted, often varying ■ 

 greatly on the same plant ; flowers usually showy, borne 

 singly or in cymes on axillary peduncles : corolla fun- 

 nelform, salverform or bell-shaped (in one species 

 bag-shaped), the limb sometimes entire, but usually 

 5-angled or 5-lobed, red, xiurple, blue, white or yellow, 

 in various shades and mixtures; calyx without the bracts 

 at the base, which appear in some species of Convol- 

 vulus, but the outer sepals are commonly larger. The 

 flowers of most species open in early morning and last 

 but a few hours under bright sunlight, hence the popu- 

 lar name. A few open only at night-fall. 



"The Japanese Morning-iilories," also called "Impe- 

 rial '* and "Emperor" Morning-Glories, were introduced 

 to the American trade from Japan in IHitC). Tiiey are 

 probably selected strains of /. hedcracea , although some 

 botanists consider them to be of hybrid origin, possibly 

 /. hederacea X rubro-coirnlea. Maximowicz referred 

 them to 7. I}edf7-acea, and this appears to be the more 

 reasonable disposition. The culture of the "asagoa" in 

 Japan amounted to a popular craze about 1^!30, the 

 equivalent of $14 to $18 sometimes being paid for a 

 single seed of the rare sorts. With political disturbances 

 came a decline of interest, but more recently the popu- 

 lar fancy for Morning-Glories has again revived. The 

 Japanese gardeners grow^ their plants almost entirely in 

 pots, and by constant attention have made them vary 

 into many curious oddities in flower and foliage. Several 

 finely illustrated books on the M<irning-(.Tlory alone are 

 published in Japan. See also " Century Magazine," 55 :281 

 {1897}. The Japanese Ipomoeas are sold in this country 

 mostly in strains, each package of seed giving flowers of 

 raany forms and colors. There are some inferior strains 

 offered, and the tlowers from these are often disappoint- 

 ing ; yet as a class the Japanese Morning-Glories are 

 the most gorgeous and versatile of garden Ipomceas. 

 If the seeds are notched they will generally bloom in 

 6 weeks from sowing. 



Morning-Glories are among the least exacting of gar- 

 den plants as regards soil and site. Most species love a 

 strong soil and sunny site, with plenty of water ; but 

 they will make the best of much that is uncongenial. 

 The seeds of the annual kinds may be sown directly out- 

 of doors, but are preferably started indoors, at least in 

 the North. If the plants are allowed to become slightly 

 pot-bound before being transplanted, they will come 

 into bloom earlier. Germination may be hastened and 

 also made more certain Iiy filing a small notch in each 

 seed, or by soaking the seeds in warm water about 2 

 hours. The "Moonfiower" and the "Japanese Morning- 

 Glories" particularly are liable to germinate poorly un- 

 less these precautions are taken. 



The perennial Ipomteas are grown from seeds in some 

 cases, but mostly from cuttings of well ripened wood, 

 layers, or division of the rootstocks. Some of the green- 

 house species, notably 7. Hoi-HfaUice, rarely produce 

 seed and are rooted from stem-cuttings with great diffi- 

 cnlty. These are often propagated successfully by 

 grafting well ripened shoots on pieces of their own 

 roots, or the roots of 7. panel u raia . I. ternata roots 

 from cuttings more readily, and /. Leari and I. Jalapa 

 are easily propagated from cuttings. 



The rapid growth and dense foliage of most garden 

 Ipomceas make them especially valuable for covering 

 arbors, verandas, w^alls, and for screening unsightly 

 objects. /. purpurea. I. riibro-ca'rulea , 7. Itcdcracea 



and I, Quanioclit are the most popular annual species 

 for this purpose; and 1. Leari, setosa and pandurata 

 are among the best perennials. In the South, the peren 

 nials may be carried through the winter outside by cut- 

 ting off the stems and mxilching the roots heavily in the 

 fall ; in the North the tubers should be taken up and 

 wintered like Dahlias, keeping them perfectly dry in a 

 cool greenhouse or frost-proof cellar. 1. h'ptophijlln 

 is valuable for very dry soils. J . Bomi-tiox is worthy 

 of a place in every garden. 



The tender perennials are seen to advantage wlieTi 

 trained to pillars, trellises, or along the roof of a green- 

 house. Their roots should be given plenty of room if 

 forage and their tops to spread. 7. HorafaUut' and its 

 closely related species, 7. terna/a, are very satisfactory 

 for this purpose. After flowering the strong shoots 

 should l)e cut back and the plant rested. Several spe- 

 cies, \jnrt[(iu\ixr\y I. Jjeari ,ritbrO'CcernJea and hederacea, 

 make excellent pot-plants if they are kept somewhat 

 pot-bound to induce flowering. The roots of nearly all 

 the perennial species are more or less purgative ; par- 

 ticularly 7. Purga , from which comes the Jalap of com- 

 merce, 7. Jalapa and I. <:(f(kartlca . 7. Batatas is the 

 common sweet potato. 



The trade names of Ipoma^as are endlessly mixed. 

 Thus, 7. Hlfixirana of the catalogues may be 7. hi^dt- 

 rarcii, I. digitata, I. Jalapa, 7. Bona-nox, I. Leari or 

 7. rul>ro-r(erulea ; but is rarely the true 7. Mexirima of 

 Gray. " ]\Ioonflower " is often applied indiscriminately 



1166. Ipomcea Ouamoclit (XK) 



to several species of Ipomcea, but it should be restricted 

 to 7. Botia-nox and 7. grandiflora. It is evident that 

 most of the plants now sold as 7. grandiflora are forms 

 of 7. Boiia-iiox : Init a few of the smaller and inferior 

 types arethe true 7. graudiflora of Lamarck. 7. hybrida 

 is a trade name for strains of 7. purpurea and 7. rubro- 

 co'rulea. The "Tree Ipomcea" is 7. fistulosa. The 

 "Japanese" or "Imperial" Morning-Glories may be 

 referred to 7. hederacea. Other popular (Catalogue 



