Ipomoea pes-caprae

Discussion in 'Botany Photo of the Day Submissions' started by lorax, Oct 14, 2008.

  1. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    4,776
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    Since it's shaping up to be an Ipomoea festival this week, here's another one; I. pes-caprae is specifically adapted to beachfronts, and routinely tries to take over beaches in Ecuador.

    I have larger images if this gets picked.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. M. D. Vaden

    M. D. Vaden Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    843
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Beaverton, Oregon
    I'm not familiar with the plant, but like the simplicity of the flower and leaves. Are the leaves usually spaced apart at nodes in pairs?

    Is this a vine or shrub?
     
  3. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    4,776
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    It's a trailing vine, and yes, the leaves are always spaced at nodes in pairs, just like you see there. It eventually forms a thick mat on the sand just above the high-tide line, and tends to grow over itself. If the vine breaks, it re-roots at the broken point and keeps on going.

    The other thing I would note, since there's no point of scale in that picture, is that the flower is about 6 inches long; this is the biggest Ipomoea I've ever seen.
     
  4. joclyn

    joclyn Rising Contributor

    Messages:
    2,707
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    philly, pa, usa 6b
    it sure is purdy!!
     

Share This Page