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Small White Morning Glory, Whitestar, Pitted Morningglory - Ipomoea lacunosa


Family: Convolvulaceae - Morning-glory family Genus Common Name: Morning Glory Native Status: NativeDicot Annual Herb Vine
Ipomoea lacunosa - Small White Morning Glory, Whitestar, Pitted Morningglory. This pretty little white morning glory is found in most of the eastern half of the United States, west to Texas and Kansas; from Florida north to New York. All Ipomoea species, including Ipomoea lacunosa are prohibited as noxious weeds in Arizona and Arkansas (Ipomoea lacunosa isn't found in Arizona.) While Small White Morning Glory is a United States native plant, it is not native in its entire range. As expected for such a disjointed population, it is not native to California, where it is currently found in only one county.

The Morning Glory name is applied because these flowers, which can be especially glorious when large numbers are blooming, will close up later in the day as the bright sun shines on them. While most morning glories seem to close tightly, Ipomoea lacunosa just curls its lips - the corolla lobes.

Found in:
AL, AR, CA, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV

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Ipomoea lacunosa

Distribution of Ipomoea lacunosa in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-September-10Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
Ipomoea lacunosa also goes by the common name Whitestar - the reason obvious from this photo. The anthers are usually a purple-pink. The blossom is sometimes pink.
Ipomoea lacunosa

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-September-10Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The inflorescence of Ipomoea lacunosa will have 1 to 3 flowers, each no more than an inch long and less than that across. The pedicel is quite short, and the peduncle is shorter than the leaf petiole, which may be sparsely hairy or glabrous. The lanceolate sepals may be somewhat hairy.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Ipomoea lacunosa

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-September-10Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The vine of an Ipomoea lacunosa plant twines around its support without changing the spiraling direction, usually clockwise. It is usually somewhat hairy, but may be glabrous.
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Ipomoea lacunosa

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-September-10Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The Ipomoea lacunosa vine, which can be up to about 10 feet long, does not have tendrils, but the end of it can look tendril-like in its clockwise spiral as it seeks something on which to climb.
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Ipomoea lacunosa

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-September-10Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The heart-shaped leaves of Ipomoea lacunosa are usually crimson-edged.
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Ipomoea lacunosa

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-September-10Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The leaves of Ipomoea lacunosa frequently have two small lobes at the base.
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Ipomoea lacunosa

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-September-10Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Ipomoea lacunosa seed capsule.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Ipomoea lacunosa

References used for identification and information:
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Ipomoea lacunosa initially published on USWildflowers.com 2013-09-25; Updated 2017-03-02

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302