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Ipomoea quamoclit L.

Family Name:	Convolvulaceae
Synonyms:	Quamoclit pennata, Quamoclit vulgaris, Convolvulus pennatus, Quamoclit pinnata
Common Name:	Sangga Langit, Cypress Vine, Cypressvine Morning Glory, Star-glory, Indian Pink, Cardinal Climber, Bunga tali-tali, 茑萝, 羽叶茑萝, 茑萝松, 縷红草

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Bird-Attracting Plant

Butterfly-Attracting Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Annual

Drought Tolerant

Climber

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Climber
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Annual

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular
Maximum Height	2 m to 6 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	0.3 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Tropical America (Mexico to northern South America)
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland, Disturbed Area / Open Ground)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Twining annual vine, climbing up to 6m under ideal conditions. Leaves ovate or oblong in outline, but deeply pinnately-lobed into slender threadlike segments, resulting in delicate lacy appearance.Flowers crimson-red, tubular with 5-pointed star-shaped petals, stay open throughout day, attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Fruits are explosive capsules, usually containing 4 seeds.Non-aggressive climber grown for ornamental foliage and contrasting flowers. Stems are thin and fragile, and plant needs vertical support (eg. fence or latticework trellis) to climb and spread out properly. Although drought-tolerant, plant blooms best when well-watered. Propagate by seeds or stem-cuttings.Genus name 'Ipomoea' means 'worm-like' -- a possible reference to the plant's twining habit or coiled flower-bud. Species epithet 'quamoclit' is the Greek name for kidney bean, describing the bowed shape of the seed leaves.

Others - Plant Morphology

Twining annual vine, climbing up to 6m under ideal conditions. Leaves ovate or oblong in outline, but deeply pinnately-lobed into slender threadlike segments, resulting in delicate lacy appearance.Flowers crimson-red, tubular with 5-pointed star-shaped petals, stay open throughout day, attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Fruits are explosive capsules, usually containing 4 seeds.Non-aggressive climber grown for ornamental foliage and contrasting flowers. Stems are thin and fragile, and plant needs vertical support (eg. fence or latticework trellis) to climb and spread out properly. Although drought-tolerant, plant blooms best when well-watered. Propagate by seeds or stem-cuttings.Genus name 'Ipomoea' means 'worm-like' -- a possible reference to the plant's twining habit or coiled flower-bud. Species epithet 'quamoclit' is the Greek name for kidney bean, describing the bowed shape of the seed leaves.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	Vertical Greenery / Green Wall, Container Planting
Thematic Landscaping	Butterfly Garden, Naturalistic Garden

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bird-Attracting, Butterfly-Attracting
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) (Flowers attract hummingbirds., Vertebrates (Bird), Insects (Butterfly, Moth))
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Drought Tolerant
Maintenance Requirements	Low
Potential Problems	Stems are thin and fragile, may break easily.
Diseases	Rust, fungal leaf spots, stem rot, thread blight, wilt
Pest(s)	Associated with
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting
Propagule Establishment Remarks	Pre-soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before sowing. Take around 4 days to germinate. Seed-grown plants bloom in 30 days.

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth, Thin

Foliar Modification	Foliar Tendril
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Palmately Lobed
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Typical Foliar Area	Microphyll ( 2.25cm2 - 20.25 cm2 )

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Herbaceous
Root Type	Underground (Fibrous Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Red
Flower Symmetry	Radial

Individual Flower Shape	Trumpet-shaped
Flower Size - Remarks	1.8 - 2.0cm long, 2.0 cm across
Flowering Period	Free-Flowering
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	136
Species ID	1432
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.