Beach Morning Glory
Ipomoea pes-caprae
The seeds of this plant can float in saltwater for ocean-spanning distances without losing their viability, allowing it to colonize remote volcanic islands.
- Scientific name
- Ipomoea pes-caprae
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Solanales › Convolvulaceae › Ipomoea
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Sandy beaches, coastal dunes, and strandlines just above the high-tide mark.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis requiring sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide).
- Range
- Tropical and subtropical coasts worldwide, Gulf of Mexico beaches, Indo-Pacific coastlines, Australian beaches
- Size
- Vines can trail up to 30 meters (100 feet) in length.
- Lifespan
- Perennial (individual clonal networks can live for decades).
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Coastal development, heavy beach tourism, off-road vehicle use, and rising sea levels.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. You can safely observe and photograph this beautiful dune-stabilizer. Avoid stepping on the vines, as they are fragile and crucial for preventing beach erosion. The seeds are toxic if ingested, so do not consume them. No skin irritation occurs upon physical contact.
Ipomoea pes-caprae , also known as bayhops , bay-hops , beach morning glory or goat's foot , is a common pantropical creeping vine belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. It grows on the upper parts of beaches and endures salted air. It is one of the most common and most widely distributed salt tolerant plants and provides one of the best known examples of oceanic dispersal. Its seeds float and are unaffected by salt water.
Photo: David George, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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