Ipomoea muricata (L.) Jacq.

Lilac Bell; Lavender Moonvine; Purple Moonflower

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Lavender Moonvine is an introduced perennial herbaceous vine in the Morning Glory family (Convolvulaceae). It has been collected from two counties in south Alabama. Lavender Moonvine is commonly cultivated and escapes to roadsides, fence rows, field edges, and power line right-of-ways. It is native to tropical America, but is now found worldwide in warmer climates. Lavender Moonvine has alternate heart shaped leaves on long twining vines. The vines can grow to fifteen feet or more in length. The sap is milky, and the stem is covered with tubercules. The pale lavender flowers open at night, and close soon after sunrise. The flowers are salverform—having a long slender tube with a flat expanded limb. Lavender Moonvine seed are available from many sources, but it is considered a noxious weed in the United States due to its large size and the tremendous number of seed that it produces. It grows best in full sun or partial shade with a trellis or arbor to climb on. In China and India parts of the plant are eaten as a vegetable, but care must be taken as parts of the plant, particularly the seed, are toxic.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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