Identification Notes
EPPO CodeIPOPC |
Life CyclePerennial |
MorphologyThe root of Ipomoea pes-caprae is large and thick, about 3 m long, and 5 cm in diameter. The stem of this plant is succulent, running along the ground and rooting at the nodes. The stem is green in color, herbaceous, prostrate, cylindrical, up to 30 cm height bearing numerous branches, and 0.3–0.4 cm in thickness; the odor and taste are characteristic with a smooth outer surface. The leaves are simple, alternately arranged, dark green, and glabrous. The leaf shape can be variable but is typically ovate, orbicular, or oblong. The leaf base is truncate to shallowly cordate, and the apex is usually notched to deeply cleft but is sometimes rounded or truncated. The petioles vary in length, ranging from 2 to 15 cm. On young leaves, the petioles are commonly reddish, becoming yellowish-green as they age. There is a pair of nectar-producing glands on the underside of each leaf blade at its juncture with the petiole. These nectaries are red on new leaves, turning black with age, attracting ants, which defend the plant against herbivorous insects. Its characteristic goat footprint-like leaf shape is a descriptive anatomical feature for naming the species. Ipomoea pes-caprae has characteristic pinkish lavender funnel-shaped flowers (6.4–7.6 cm wide) that bloom throughout the summer and fall. The fruits are ovoid to flattened-globose, and capsules are dehiscent, usually measuring 1.3–1.9 cm long and wide. The seed is rounded to trigonous (three-sided), covered with dense, velvety hairs, and is 1.5–2.5 cm long. |
Growing seasonJanuary - February |
Germination periodJanuary - February |
Flowering periodDecember-March |
PropagationBy Seed and Vegetative propagation |
HabitatDistributed on sandy beaches or in sunny roadside areas with a characteristic high-temperature and dry environment exhibits great salt tolerance and drought resistance. |
Weed potentialIpomoea pes-caprae has a high-nutrient-utilization efficiency and plays important roles in sand fixation, wind resistance, landscape greening, and ecological restoration of the vegetation in tropical and subtropical coral islands and coastal zones |
Control measureManual and Chemical |
Recommended herbicideNon selective Glyphosate |
DistributionHalophytic plant that favorably grows in tropical and subtropical countries in Asia, America, Africa, and Australia |
Medicinal propertiesIpomoea pes-caprae is widely used in folk medicine to treat several diseases (Akinniyi et al. 2022). Traditionally, I. pes-caprae has been used for many medicinal purposes. For example, Australian Aborigines apply the heated leaves to wounds, skin infections, and inflamed sores, as well as to stings from poisonous fishes, manta rays, and insects (Pereda-Miranda et al. 2005). In some parts of India, it is used in ritual baths to alleviate evil spirits. In Brazil, it serves an important role in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders, and pain (Emendörfer et al. 2005). Infusions of I. pes-caprae leaves have been recommended for treating hypertension and kidney ailments. At the same time, decoctions of the same plant are used to treat digestive disorders, internal and external pains, dysentery, inflammations, fatigue, strain, arthritis, and rheumatism (Pereda-Miranda et al. 2005). |
References[1] Pereda-Miranda, R.; Escalante-Sánchez, E.; Escobedo-Martínez, C. Characterization of Lipophilic Pentasaccharides from Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae). J. Nat. Prod. 2005, 68, 226–230. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [2] Emendörfer, F.; Emendörfer, F.; Bellato, F.; Noldin, V.F.; Niero, R.; Cechinel-Filho, V.; Cardozo, A.M. Evaluation of the Relaxant Action of Some Brazilian Medicinal Plants in Isolated Guinea-Pig Ileum and Rat Duodenum. J. Pharm. Pharmaceut. Sci. 2005, 8, 63–68. [3] Akinniyi, G.; Lee, J.; Kim, H.; Lee, J.-G.; Yang, I. A Medicinal Halophyte Ipomoea pes-caprae (Linn.) R. Br.: A Review of Its Botany, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivity. Mar. Drugs 2022, 20, 329. https://doi.org/10.3390/md20050329 |