Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa
(bush morning glory)

Preferred Scientific Name

• Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa (Jacq) (Mart. ex Choisy) D.F. Austin

Preferred Common Name

• bush morning glory

Other Scientific Names

• Batatas crassicaulis Benth.
• Convolvulus batatilla Kunth
• Ipomoea batatilla (Kunth) G. Don
• Ipomoea crassicaulis (Benth.) B.L. Rob.
• Ipomoea fistulosa Mart. ex Choisy

International Common Names

• English: bush morning-glory; tree morning glory
• Spanish: campana gallega; gloria de la mañana
• Chinese: shu qian niu
• Portuguese: algodão-bravo; algodão-do-campo; campainha-de-canudo; canudo-das-lagoas; ipoméia-arbórea; maniorana

Local Common Names

• Bolivia: tararaqui
• Brazil: algodão do Pantanal; canudo; canudo de lagoa; canudo-do-breja; capabode; capa-bode; manjorana; mata cabra
• Cuba: aguinaldo color de carne
• Dominican Republic: campana
• Egypt: olleiq ek-kibeer
• Germany: Dickstengelige; Trichterwinde
• Haiti: clochette
• India: behaya; besharam; pink morning glory; shrubby morning glory
• Indonesia: kangkungan; klemut; ula
• Lesser Antilles: ológi di anochi; petite campanule
• Paraguay: mandiyura
• South Africa: morning glory bush
• Thailand: phak bung farang; phak bung rua
• Zimbabwe: morning glory-bush

EPPO code

• IPOFI (Ipomoea fistulosa)

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Solanales
•                         Family: Convolvulaceae
•                             Genus: Ipomoea
•                                 Species: Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa

Ipomoea is a large and complex genus of vines and shrubs within the Convolvulaceae (Stevens, 2012). The family comprises approximately 700 species grouped in 55-60 genera and is nearly cosmopolitan in distribution, although its members are primarily tropical plants (Stefanovic et al., 2003). The genus Ipomoea includes more than 600 species distributed worldwide, with approximately 500 species occurring in tropical and warm temperate regions of the Americas (Miller et al., 1999).

The taxonomy of many Ipomoea species, including Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa is still unclear and has been the subject of extended discussion. There are nomenclatural problems with what has been called I. fistulosa, I. carnea subsp. fistulosa and I. crassicaulis. These three names have been used extensively in the literature as distinct taxa, but also as synonyms and subspecies of I. carnea. Verdcourt (1963) noted a close relationship between I. fistulosa and I. carnea, while Austin (1977) listed I. fistulosa as a subspecies of I. carnea, although with a different geographical and altitudinal range. On the other hand, the name I. crassicaulis has been commonly synonymized with I. fistulosa. Authors have noted that the taxonomic confusion may be due to the morphological plasticity observed when these plants grow in wet and dry habitats and to their extensive cultivation as ornamentals (Verdcourt, 1963; Austin, 1977; Frey, 1995; Shaltout et al., 2006).

The following description is from Flora of China Editorial Committee (2017):

Shrubs, 1-3 m; axial parts puberulent, later glabrescent; sap milky. Branches terete or angular, stout, becoming sparsely lenticellate with age. Petiole 2.5-15 cm; leaf blade ovate or ovate-oblong, 6-25 x 4-17 cm, densely puberulent or adaxially subglabrous, base cordate or truncate, margin entire, apex acuminate, mucronulate; midvein 2-glandular abaxially at base, lateral veins 7-9 pairs. Inflorescences few to several flowered; peduncle stout, 5-10 cm; bracts early deciduous, ovate. Pedicel 1-1.5 cm. Sepals ovate or nearly circular, broadly rounded, abaxially puberulent, equal or inner ones longer, 5-6 mm. Corolla lilac or pink, darker inside, funnel-form, 7-9 cm; tube and midpetaline bands mealy outside. Stamens included; filaments unequal; anthers linear, base sagittate. Pistil included; ovary puberulent. Style base puberulent; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule pale brown, ovoid, 1.5-2 cm, 4-valved, apiculate. Seeds black, 1 cm, brown sericeous-pubescent.  

I. carnea subsp. fistulosa has been intentionally introduced worldwide as an ornamental and hedge plant, and has been repeatedly reported as escaped from cultivation (PIER, 2017; PROTA, 2017; USDA-ARS, 2017). By 1963, the species was reported as “cultivated and naturalized” in tropical East Africa (Verdcourt, 1963). In 2015, it was collected in Saudi Arabia, where it grows as a hedge plant around cultivated fields in the Jazan region (Al-Sodany, 2016). It was probably introduced by the Indian or Egyptian farmers working at these farms.  

Soil drainage

• free
• seasonally waterlogged

Soil reaction

• acid
• neutral

Soil texture

• light
• medium

Natural Dispersal

I. carnea subsp. fistulosa spreads by seed and vegetatively from stem fragments (Henderson, 2015). Seeds are covered by a dense cottony, furry indumentum, consisting of slightly glossy and thick hairs that facilitate wind and water dispersal (Al-Sodany, 2016).

Accidental Introduction

During floods and other natural disasters, plants are swept off river beds and embankments and can become established in habitats downstream.

Intentional Introduction

The species has been widely introduced by humans across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, primarily to be used as an ornamental and hedge plant (Henderson, 2015; PROSEA, 2017).

I. carnea subsp. fistulosa is considered a serious weed in rice fields and is listed as a weed in pastures (Frey, 1995; Oliveira Júnior et al., 2014). In aquatic habitats, it can form floating mats on the water surface, causing problems such as obstruction, difficulties in irrigation and navigation, and also causing problems for fisheries (Chaudhuri et al., 1994).

I. carnea subsp. fistulosa is an environmental and agricultural weed. This invasive species has been reported displacing native vegetation in Nepal, Egypt, South Africa, Swaziland, Cuba, and on many islands in the Pacific region (Tiwari et al., 2005; Chandra Sekar, 2012; Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012; Henderson, 2015; PIER, 2017). It has become a serious weed in Swaziland and South Africa, where it is also regarded as a serious threat to wetland habitats (Henderson, 2015; Swaziland National Trust Commission, 2017). In India, it is also invading riparian areas and irrigation channels (India Biodiversity Portal, 2017). In Egypt, it invades canal and drain banks, roadsides and field edges in the Nile Delta (Shaltout et al., 2006).

I. carnea subsp. fistulosa is poisonous to livestock, goats and other mammals (Oliveira Júnior et al., 2014).

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Highly mobile locally
• Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
• Long lived
• Fast growing
• Has high reproductive potential
• Gregarious
• Reproduces asexually

• Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
• Modification of successional patterns
• Monoculture formation
• Negatively impacts agriculture
• Negatively impacts animal health
• Reduced amenity values
• Reduced native biodiversity
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Competition - shading
• Poisoning
• Rapid growth
• Rooting

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
• Difficult to identify/detect in the field
• Difficult/costly to control

Economic Value

In India, the plant is grown as a source of green manure. It also shows potential for biogas production due to the high cellulose and volatile solid content of its dried stem material. In some states in India, the species is used as a raw material for paper-bag production (Frey, 1995; PROSEA, 2017; USDA-ARS, 2017).

Social Benefit

The species is used in traditional medicine, especially as an antirheumatic remedy and a topical antiseptic for lesions. The leaves are slightly purgative and eaten as a vegetable, although they are considered toxic to livestock.

Environmental Services

I. carnea subsp. fistulosa is cultivated as an ornamental plant for its attractive flowers, and as a hedge plant along irrigation banks and drainage canals (e.g. Eid, 2002).