Scientific Name: Ipomoea alba
Synonym: Calonyction aculeatum
Common Names: Moonflower, Tropical White Morning-glory, Moon Flower, Moon Vine
Growth Habit: Vine, Herb/Forb
Hawaii Native Status: Introduced. This naturalized ornamental garden plant is native to Mexico, but it is now widespread in the tropics.
Flower Color: White
Height: Climbing to 15 feet (4.6 m) tall or more.
Description: The flowers open at night and are up to 6 inches (15 cm) across with a slender, equally long floral tube. The flowers have 5 sepals, 5 broadly rounded corolla lobes, and a pale greenish yellow 5-pointed "star" radiating from the center of the floral tube. Even though they are night-blooming, the large, shining white flowers are easy to spot if there is any moonlight. The leaves are green, alternate, and heart-shaped to slightly 3-lobed. The stems are green and twining.
Here in Hawaii, Moonflower grows in mesic (moderately wet) to wet disturbed areas from sea level to 2000 feet (610 m) in elevation.
Fragrant – The flowers shine in the moonlight and have a delightful evening fragrance.
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Family: Convolvulaceae – Morning-glory family
Genus: Ipomoea L. – morning-glory
Species: Ipomoea alba L. – tropical white morning-glory
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