Code
IPOOB
Growth form
Creeper
Biological cycle
Perennial
Habitat
Terrestrial
Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl.
synonym | Convolvulus gonatodes Steud. ex A. Rich. |
synonym | Convolvulus insuavis (Bl.) D. Dietr. |
synonym | Convolvulus obscurus L. |
synonym | Convolvulus ochraceus Lindl. |
synonym | Convolvulus subangularis Buch.-Ham. ex Steud. |
synonym | Convolvulus trichocalyx Schumach. & Thonn. |
synonym | Convolvulus trigonus Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. |
synonym | Ipomoea acutiflora A. Rich. |
synonym | Ipomoea demissa Hall. fil. |
synonym | Ipomoea demissa Hallier f. |
synonym | Ipomoea fragilis Choisy |
synonym | Ipomoea inconspicua Baker |
synonym | Ipomoea insuavis Bl. |
synonym | Ipomoea insuavis Blume |
synonym | Ipomoea kentrocarpa Hochst. ex A. Rich. |
synonym | Ipomoea koloaensis H. Lév. |
synonym | Ipomoea longipes Engl. |
synonym | Ipomoea luteola R. Br. |
synonym | Ipomoea obscura var. abyssinica Hall. fil. |
synonym | Ipomoea obscura var. demissa (Hall. fil.) B. Verdcourt |
synonym | Ipomoea obscura var. fragilis (Choisy) A. Meeuse |
synonym | Ipomoea obscura var. indica Hall. fil. |
synonym | Ipomoea obscura var. obscura |
synonym | Ipomoea ocularis Bartl. |
synonym | Ipomoea saltiana Rendle |
synonym | Ipomoea solanifolia Burm. fil. |
synonym | Ipomoea sudanica A. Chev. |
synonym | Merremia geophiloides A. Chev. |
Comorian |
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Creoles and pidgins; French-based |
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Créole Seychelles |
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French |
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Malgache |
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Other |
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Global description
Ipomoea obscura is a twining herbaceous vine, climbing, sometimes trailing, 2 to 3 m long. The stem is cylindrical, slender, glabrous or covered with long dense hairs. The leaves are alternate, simple, entire, broadly ovate to subcircular, with the base deeply cordate and the apex tapered in a point. The faces are almost glabrous, the margin is slightly ciliated. The flowers are solitary or by 2 on top of a long slender peduncle. They look like little trumpets, very flared and cream white in colour. The globular fruit is dry, containing 4 gray seeds. It remains surrounded at the base by the persistent calyx.Cotyledons
The cotyledons are stalked, with a petiole of 1.5 cm long. The lamina is distinctive, elongated rectangular in shape, 2 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, with truncate base and notched summit till the base, completely separating the lamina in 2 distinct linear lobes, with asymmetrical base. The stem is marked by two palmate-veins, emerging from the base of each lobe and climb to almost the top.
First leaves
The first leaves are simple, alternate, with a long stalk. The petiole is pubescent to hairy. The leaf blade is broadly ovate, 3 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, with cordate base and wide apex. The margin is entire, finely ciliated and both sides of the leaves are sub-glabrous.
General habit
Herbaceous plant, twining, creeping or climbing, measuring 2 to 3 meters long.
Underground system
The plant has a taproot system.
Stem
The stem is cylindrical, solid, twining, 1 to 2 mm in diameter, sub-glabrous to hairy, and measuring 2 to 3 m long.
Leaf
The leaves are simple, alternate, held by a petiole of 1.5 to 3 cm long with a retrorse pubescence. The leaf blade is entire, broadly oval to sub-circular, 3 to 9 cm long and 2.5 to 8 cm wide. It is deeply cordate at the base, apiculate and mucronate at the apex. The margin is entire, finely ciliated, both sides are glabrous to finely pubescent. The main venation is palmate with 5-9-veins emerging from the base.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is axillary, at the end of a long stalk, 1 to 5 cm, with retrorse hairs, with 1 to 2 flowers.
Flower
Each flower is held by a slender pedicel, 1.5 to 2 cm long, hairy, at the base of which is a small bract, 2 to 4 mm. The calyx consists of 5 free sepals, ovate, mucronate, 3 to 5 mm long. The corolla is formed of five petals, fused into a narrow tube which is then widely flared, 1.5 to 2.5 cm long and 2 cm in diameter. It is creamy white, sometimes purple in center. The five stamens and pistil are included in the corolla tube.
Fruit
The fruit is a globular capsule, smooth, light brown in color, 6 to 10 mm in diameter, apiculate, surrounded by persistent calyx, with 2 loculus and 4 valves. It contains 4 seeds.
Seed
The seed is subtrigonal, 3.5 to 4.5 mm long, gray with dark seed coat, with dense velvety pubescence.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Life cycle
Mayotte: Ipomoea obscura flowers and fruits all year round.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Ipomoea obscura is a perennial plant. It is propagated by seed.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Growth form
Liana climbing structure
Leaf arrangement
Leaf type
Type of prefoliation
Latex
Stem section
Root type
Hollow or solid stem
Stipule type
Leaf attachment type
Fruit type
Cotyledon type
Lamina base
Lamina margin
Lamina apex
Upperface pilosity
Upperface hair type
Lowerface pilosity
Simple leaf type
Lamina section
Lamina Veination
Flower color
Inflorescence type
Stem pilosity
Stem hair type
Life form
flower color | leaf shape | flower size | species | |||
red |
cordate entire to trilobed with tines |
L 2,5-3 cm diam 2-2,5 cm |
Ipomoea hederifolia | |||
pinnate |
L 3-3,5 cm diam 1,5-2 cm |
Ipomoea quamoclit | ||||
pink |
hastate entire |
L 4-5 cm diam 5-8 cm |
Ipomoea aquatica | |||
cordate trilobed |
L 2 cm diam 1,8-2,5 cm |
Ipomoea triloba | ||||
sagitate entire |
L 0,6-1 cm diam 1-1,5 cm |
Ipomoea eriocarpa | ||||
blue violet |
cordate entire to trilobed |
L 5-7 cm diam 7 cm |
Ipomoea indica | |||
cordate entire |
L 2,5-5 cm diam 4-6 cm |
Ipomoea purpurea | ||||
blue |
cordate trilobed |
L 5-6 cm diam 4-6 cm |
Ipomoea nil | |||
white |
sagitate entire |
L 0,6-1 cm diam 1-1,5 cm |
Ipomoea eriocarpa | |||
cordate entire |
L 1,5-2,5 cm diam 1,5-2 cm |
Ipomoea obscura | ||||
palmate |
L 2-3 cm diam 3-5 cm |
Merremia aegyptia | ||||
cordate entire to trilobed |
L 7-12 cm diam 8-10 cm |
Ipomoea alba | ||||
yellow |
cordate entire |
L 3-4 cm diam 4-6 cm |
Ipomoea ochracea | |||
cordate entire |
L 2-3 cm diam 2-3 cm |
Merremia umbellata |
.
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Pinnatisect leaf blade (*) | Ipomoea quamoclit | |||||
palmate lamina (*) | Merremia aegyptia | |||||
palmatisect leaf blade (*) | No supernumerary lobes at the base of the leaf | Entire leaf margin | Merremia dissecta | |||
Highly serrated leaf margin | Ipomoea coptica | |||||
Supernumerary lobes at the base of the leaf | Ipomoea cairica | |||||
lamina simple tri-lobed | Stem with latex | Ipomoea batatas | ||||
Stem without latex | stem and leaf hirsute | Ipomoea nil | ||||
stem and leaf pubescent | Ipomoea indica | |||||
stema nd leaf usually glabrous | well marked lobes | Ipomoea triloba | ||||
slightly marked lobes | Ipomoea hederifolia | |||||
Lamina simple entire | stem with latex | Hollow stem, aquatic plant | Ipomoea aquatica | |||
Solid stem, terrestrial plant | Ipomoea batatas | |||||
stem without latex | stem glabrous | Entire margin | Ipomoea alba | |||
Margin marked by 2 to 5 tines | Ipomoea hederifolia | |||||
pubescent stem | sagittate leaf blade | margin of the leaf glabrous | Ipomoea eriocarpa | |||
ovate leaf blade | margin of the leaf ciliated | Jacquemontia tamnifolia | ||||
Leaf blade cordate at the base | leaf blade pubescent | leaves small. always simple | Ipomoea purpurea | |||
leaves large often trilobed | Ipomoea indica | |||||
leaf blade usually glabrous | apiculate tip | Ipomoea obscura |
pinnatisect : a simple leaf with pinnate segments nearly reaching the central mid-rib,
Palmate : composite leaf whose leaflets resemble fingers
palmatiséquée : simple leaf with deeply cut lobes, closely reaching the base of the leaf
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
V-shaped |
free branches or preety much |
branches highly apart | 40 mm long | Ipomoea quamoclit | |
branches slightly apart | 40 mm long | Ipomoea aquatica | |||
20 mm long | Ipomoea obscura | ||||
branches welded at the base | 20 mm long | Ipomoea triloba | |||
bilobed | 12 mm long | Ipomoea eriocarpa | |||
25 mm long | Ipomoea nil | ||||
slightly indented | petiolate | 20 mm long | Ipomoea indica | ||
long petiolate | 25 - 30 mm long | Ipomoea hederifolia | |||
shortly petiolate | 25 - 30 mm long | Merremia aegyptia | |||
indented with basal tooth | petiolate | 15 mm long and width | Ipomoea purpurea |
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Comoros: Ipomoea obscura is a very common species, up to 400 m altitude.
Madagascar: A common weed of slash and burn (tavy) on the wet eastern slope.
Mauritius common ruderal plant on the whole island on roadsides, in hedgerows, fallow land, vacant lots. It can become a troublesome weed in crops.
Mayotte: Ipomoea obscura is a native species very common in all secondarized environments, especially in the center of the island. It is a very common weed in crops.
Reunion: ruderal species very common on roadsides, in the wasteland and fallow, weed of many cultures. It grows preferentially at low altitude, but it is found up to 1000 m altitude in Cilaos.
Seychelles: Common in different agro-climatic conditions at all altitudes.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Habitat
Geographical distibution
Origin
Ipomoea obscura is native to Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, the Indian Ocean islands, India and Asia.
Worldwide distribution
This species has been introduced in the Caribbean, the West Indies, Australia and the Pacific Islands (New Caledonia, Marianas, Marquesas, Tuamotu, Hawaii).
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Local harmfulness
Comoros: Ipomoea obscura is a common and sometimes abundant weed in old plantations.
Madagascar: It can be very harmful for upland rice on tavy, the largest component of production of the eastern side of the island systems.
Mauritius: A weed significantly impairing the development of vegetable crops or sugar cane. It has an average high harmfulness.
Mayotte: I. obscura is present in 14% of cultivated plots. It is an abundant weed in pineapple crops. It can also be found in food crops. It is especially abundant in the center and south of the island.
Reunion: A weed very common present globally in 35% of the cultivated plots of Reunion, 42% of sugarcane plots and 55% of pineapple plots. It is found even in the lens of Cilaos. However, it is rarely very abundant. At low altitude, it can reach 30-50% cover in sugarcane culture in which it develops most.
Seychelles: I. obscura may occasionally become a serious weed for tubercular crops, vegetable crops and orchards.
West Indies: Ipomoea obscura is present in sugarcane plots in Guadeloupe and frequent and regularly abundant in orchards.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Medicinal: The poultice of crushed leaves of Ipomoea obscura can be applied on the skull against migraines, the juice of crushed leaves on the skull of newborns against asthenia, against conjunctivitis, the leaves crushed in the nostrils against nasal discharge.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Mauritius: See MSIRI Recommendation Sheet No 139 - Chemical Control of Vine Weeds (click here)
La Réunion : Ipomoea obscura is poorly controlled by herbicides used in sugarcane crop.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
- Le Bourgeois, T., A. Carrara, M. Dodet, W. Dogley, A. Gaungoo, P. Grard, Y. Ibrahim, E. Jeuffrault, G. Lebreton, P. Poilecot, J. Prosperi, J. A. Randriamampianina, A. P. Andrianaivo and F. Théveny (2008). Advent-OI : Principales adventices des îles du sud-ouest de l'Océan Indien. Cirad. Montpellier, France, Cirad.
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 487 p.
- Huat, J., Nagy, M., Carpente, A., Schwartz, M., Le Bourgeois, T. & Marnotte, P. 2021. Guide de la flore spontannée des agrosystèmes de Mayotte. Montpellier, Cirad. 150 p.
- Grossard, F., Le Bourgeois, T., Dumbardon-Martial, E. & Gervais, L. 2013. Adventilles - Guadeloupe & Martinique - Les adventices des Antilles françaises. Abymes, Guadeloupe, France, Les éditions du CTCS Guadeloupe. 195 p.
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:269406-1
- Le Bourgeois, T., A. Carrara, M. Dodet, W. Dogley, A. Gaungoo, P. Grard, Y. Ibrahim, E. Jeuffrault, G. Lebreton, P. Poilecot, J. Prosperi, J. A. Randriamampianina, A. P. Andrianaivo and F. Théveny (2008). Advent-OI : Principales adventices des îles du sud-ouest de l'Océan Indien. Cirad. Montpellier, France, Cirad.
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 487 p.
- Huat, J., Nagy, M., Carpente, A., Schwartz, M., Le Bourgeois, T. & Marnotte, P. 2021. Guide de la flore spontannée des agrosystèmes de Mayotte. Montpellier, Cirad. 150 p.
- Grossard, F., Le Bourgeois, T., Dumbardon-Martial, E. & Gervais, L. 2013. Adventilles - Guadeloupe & Martinique - Les adventices des Antilles françaises. Abymes, Guadeloupe, France, Les éditions du CTCS Guadeloupe. 195 p.
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:269406-1
Clé d'identification des graines des principales adventices de La Réunion. Version 1 - 55 espèces
La flore des mauvaises herbes de la Canne à Sucre à La Réunion. Caractérisation à partir des témoins des essais d’herbicides. 2005-2016
Weeds of tropical rainfed cropping systems: are there patterns at a global level of perception?
Etude de la phénologie et des traits de réponse aux pratiques culturales des espèces végétales d'intérêt pour la lutte biologique en vergers d'agrumes à la Réunion
Caractérisation des communautés adventices des vergers d’agrumes de la Réunion et détermination d’espèces favorables à la mise en place de la lutte biologique par conservation
Analyse comparée de la flore adventice en culture d’ananas et de canne à sucre à la Réunion
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Ipomoea%2520obscura
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Root | Root |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Phylum | Tracheophyta |
Class | Magnoliopsida |
Order | Solanales |
Family | Convolvulaceae |
Genus | Ipomoea |
Species | Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl. |