Convolvulaceae : Ipomoea leptophylla
Files
Download Seed: Seeds are covered with short brown hair. (67 KB)
Download Seedling: One month old seedling grown in research greenhouse at SDSU. (74 KB)
Download Vegetative: Leaves (4-10 cm long) have a short petiole. Plant compact bush to 1.5 m diameter. (639 KB)
Download Flowering: Twisted buds open into funnel-shaped flowers (973 KB)
Download Research Gardens: First seasons growth of seeds planted in research garden near Brookings, S.D. (138 KB)
Download Mature plant in bloom (3.9 MB)
Family Name
Convolvulaceae
Common Name
Bushmorning glory, man root, man-of-the-earth
Native American Name
Lakota: pȟežúta niǧé tȟáŋka pȟetáǧa
Description
Ipomoea leptophylla is a long-lived perennial shrub-like herb, with multiple smooth, decumbent to erect, stems, from a single large root, that grow 30-120 cm in length. The plant develops a large spindle shaped tuber that can extent more than 2 m into the ground and weigh up to 45 kg. The simple, alternate leaves are linear to linear-lanceolate, 3-15 cm long and 2-8 mm wide, petioles 1-7 mm long, the margins entire with a sharp tip. The inflorescence consists of axial cymes of 1-3 (rarely more) on long (7-10 cm) peduncles and each flower having a pedicel of 5-10 mm. The sepals are unequal in size, 5-10 mm long, the inner ones longer and wider than the outer. The purple to pink petals are fused, funnel shaped, 5-9 cm long with a darker throat. The stamens are included, unequal in length, 2-3 cm long with anthers 5-7 mm long. The pistil has a smooth, ovoid ovary and the style is included in the corolla. The fruit is an ovoid capsule 1-1.5 cm long. The seeds are large, 10 mm long and 4 mm wide, with a fine downy-haired coating. Bush morning glory blooms from May through September in the sandy plains and prairies of southwestern South Dakota.
Horticulture Notes
Seed Collection: Collect seed in July-Sept. when dark brown in color.
Germination: the seedcoat is impermeable to water. Scarification with the point of a sharp knife to create a hole without damaging the seed and soaking them overnight will induce germination.
Vegetative Propagation: Tubers can be transplanted when dormant.
Soils: Sandy or gravelly well drained soils.
Light: Full sun.
Water: Tolerates dry to mesic conditions. Mature plants are very drought tolerant.
Additional Notes
Bush morning glory is a dramatic addition to a xeric or native plant garden. It produces a large supply of flowers over a long blooming season. The plants are generally grown from seed as the large root is not easily transplanted