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Morning glory
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The `Ipomoea' genus , with their funnel-shaped or tubular flowers, can add lustre to the garden
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IPOMOEA, GENUS of about 500 species of slender climbing annuals and perennials, is native to warm regions worldwide. It belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. Leaves are alternate, simple and entire, toothed or lobed.
The funnel-shaped or tubular flowers are solitary or borne in axillary or terminal cymes, racemes or panicles. As a climber, it is good for covering walls, balustrades, pillars and trellises.
Ipomoea Indica or Ilearil called `Blue Dawn flower' is a vigorous perennial climber bearing evergreen heart shaped or three-lobed, slender, pointed mid-green leaves 6-15 cms long; bears abundant funnel shaped rich purple-blue to blue flowers 6 cms across in cymes or 3-5, often maturing to purplish red.
Ipomoea purporeae or common morning glory has broad and ovate mid-green leaves with slender, hairy and bristly stem and trumpet shaped flowers in pink, purple, blue, magenta or white with white tubes.
Ipomoea tricolour (`Heavenly blue') is a fast growing, short-lived plant with ovate, heart-shaped, slender-tipped mid-green leaves about 6 cms long. Funnel shaped flowers are bright sky blue to purple with white tubes and golden yellow throat. The plant flowers in summer and throughout the year; opens with the sunrise and closes at sunset.
Ipomoea palmata called the `Railway creeper' bearing purplish flowers is useful for covering screens. It is a rapid growing creeper and quickly covers large areas in a short time. Ipomoea coccinea or `star morning glory' — bears racemes of 3 to 8 scarlet flowers 2 cms across with yellow throats. They grow in loam based, fertile, well drained soil in full sun. During the growth, water freely and apply liquid fertilizer monthly.
Ipomoea `scarlet star' bears many flowers with central white stars.Propagation is by seeds or semi-ripe cuttings; soak the seeds for 24 hours before sowing.
Chitra Radhakrishnan
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