Scientific details

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ipomoea alba

 COMMON NAME(S): Moonflower, Moon vine
SYNONYM(S): Calonyction aculeatum (L.) House; Ipomoea bona-nox L.
FAMILY: CONVOLVULACEAE - Morning glory family
ORIGIN: World tropics
HABITAT: Cultivated landscapes, disturbed areas
RANGE: Escaped in the Gulf Coast states and Hawaii; a summer annual in much of North America
TYPE: Evergreen, herbaceous vine
HEIGHT: Variable
CHARACTERISTICS: Stems twining, with milky sap
LEAVES: Alternate, simple, oval-shaped, 2-5" long; sometimes 3-5 lobed, pointed at the tip(s)
FLOWERS: Large, showy white morning-glories that open at night and fade in the morning, 5-6" wide; very fragrant
FLOWERING SEASON: Summer
FRUITS: Capsules

ALLERGENIC COMPONENTS: Stems, leaves
ALLERGENIC PRINCIPLES: Unknown
ALLERGENIC PROPERTIES: Dermatological
COMMENTS: Contact dermatitis has been reported occasionally.

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