Moonflower
Ipomoea alba
The large white flowers open so rapidly at dusk that the unfurling process can be watched with the naked eye in under three minutes.
- Scientific name
- Ipomoea alba
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Solanales › Convolvulaceae › Ipomoea
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Tropical and subtropical forest edges, stream banks, and disturbed moist areas.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (produces energy via photosynthesis).
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America, Tropical Asia, Australia
- Size
- Climbing woody vine growing 5 to 30 meters in length.
- Lifespan
- Perennial in tropical regions, but grows as an annual in temperate climates.
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- No major threats; highly adaptable, though localized populations can be affected by extreme frost or habitat clearance.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch and safe to observe closely, especially at dusk when the blooms rapidly unfurl. However, all parts of the plant, particularly the seeds, contain toxic alkaloids and are harmful if ingested. Keep out of reach of children and pets. If ingested, seek medical or veterinary assistance immediately.
Ipomoea alba , sometimes called the tropical white morning-glory or moonflower (but not to be confused with the other species also called moonflower) or moon vine , is a species of night-blooming morning glory, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the New World, from northern Argentina north to Mexico and Florida. Though formerly classified as genus Calonyction , species aculeatum , it is now properly assigned to genus Ipomoea , subgenus Quamoclit , section Calonyction .
Photo: 葉子, CC0, via iNaturalist
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