water spinach

local name

Fried vegetable shoots (Central region)

Common name: Swamp morning glory/ Water spinach

Scientific name: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.

Last name

Ipomoea

species

aquatica

Synonym

Ipomoea natans Dinter & Suess.

Ipomoea repens Roth

Ipomoea reptans Poir.

Ipomoea subdentata Miq.

Ipomoea sagittifolia Hochr.

Family name CONVOLVULACEAE

Plant group

flowering plants

Botanical characteristics

Stems erect or creeping along the ground. It has joints with green leaf buds and does not branch. The trunk is hollow.

Leaves are single, lanceolate, slender, heart-shaped at the base, pointed at the tip, and smooth at the leaf blades and margins. Petiole 4-8 cm long. Leaf blade approximately 6-15 cm long.

Flowers come in a bouquet with green calyx. Cone-shaped petals, purple on the outside, white on the outside, 5 stamens.

Fruit single, round, size approximately 1.42 cm.

4-5 seeds

Ecological conditions

outdoor

ecological conditions

Commonly found in the tropics. Along the Khlong Bueng swamp floating on the surface of the water or creep along the wet ground. The area is 400 m above mean sea level.

Place of origin

Africa and Asia to Australia

Distribution

Found throughout the tropics in South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Planting and propagation

Propagated by seed.

Utilization type

Food, herbs, economic crops

Young shoots are eaten as a fresh vegetable. The whole plant is a mild laxative, nourishes the eyes, and is an antidote to all drugs. The roots are used to treat women with leg problems. The leaves are rubbed and applied when stung by a snake.

Source: https://www.royalparkrajapruek.org/Plants