Plant Name
Scientific Name: Ipomoea indica
Synonym: Convolvulus indicus
Common Names: Oceanblue Morning-glory, Koali 'Awa, Blue Dawn Flower, Blue Morningglory, Blue Morning Glory
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual, Perennial
Growth Habit: Vine, Herb/Forb
Hawaii Native Status: Native (indigenous). Note: Some sources consider this South American plant to be introduced to Hawaii.
Flower Color: Light violet-blue to light purple, Pink, White. The flowers typically age to a reddish or pink color.
Height: Trailing or climbing to 20 feet (6 m) long or tall
Description: The beautiful flowers are 3 inches (8 cm) across, funnel-shaped, and generally have a light pinkish purple, 5-lobed "star" radiating from the whitish center of the funnel. The 5 floral sepals are hairless or covered in flattened hairs. The 3 outer sepals are broadly lanceolate, while the 2 inner sepals are narrowly lanceolate. The leaves are bright green, alternate, and broadly heart-shaped to 3-lobed. The slender, green stems are trailing to twining.
Here in Hawaii, Oceanblue Morning-glory grows in disturbed areas from sea level to 4000 feet (1219 m) in elevation. It's especially common at lower elevations. This sprawling vine is rather weedy and can cover the ground and smother other plants.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae – Morning-glory family
Genus: Ipomoea L. – morning-glory
Species: Ipomoea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. – oceanblue morning-glory
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