Ipomoea hederacea Jacq.
Family: Convolvulaceae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth has been misapplied to California plants.
Note — The identification of Ipomoea hederacea and I. nil is somewhat confused in California. Ipomoea nil is a very similar species that is cultivated as an ornamental and possibly escapes.
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
ivy morningglory
Primary Disseminule Type
seed
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Fruit a dehiscent (valvular) capsule, globose, ca. 1 cm diameter, containing a few seeds.
Seed shaped like a wedge of a sphere (± elliptic when viewed from the front or back, D-shaped when viewed from the side, cross-section ± trigonous to sector-shaped), 4–6 mm long x 3–4 mm wide. Surface dull, rough (appearing granular or finely pitted under magnification), tufted with long hairs (these are easily broken off and may be missing), longitudinally grooved on dorsal side, longitudinally ridged on ventral side, dark brown to black (solid or mottled).
Hilum round to elliptic, 0.7–0.9 mm long, ± recessed, surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped ridge, ± hairy.
Similar Species
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI