Ipomoea triloba L., Convolvulaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 15 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: fofegau, fofgu, fofgu-sabana, nedgut, netkort

Chinese: shan lie ye shu

English: Aiea morning-glory, little bell, pink convolvulus, potato-vine, three-lobe morningglory

Japanese: hoshi-asagao

Palauan: torech

Spanish: batatilla, campanilla, churristate, puyui

Yapese: galli ngo boca roro

Habit:  vine

Description:  "An annual herb with twining stems, 1 to 3 m long, glabrous except the inflorescence; stems somewhat angled, about 3 mm thick, milky; leaves broadly ovate to orbicular in outline, entire, coarsely dentate to more or less deeply 3-lobed, center lobe may be pointed, base broadly cordate, 4 to 11 cm long, often nearly as wide; petiole slender, 3 to 10 cm, glabrous or sometimes minutely tuberculate; inflorescence axillary; peduncle shorter to longer than the petiole, angular, minutely verrucose toward the apex, one-flowered or cymosely few to several-flowered; branches of the cyme very short; flowers aggregate; pedicels minutely verrucose or glabrous, 2.5 to 8 mm, closing  before noon; sepals slightly unequal, 7 to 8 mm long, the outer ones a little shorter, oblong to narrowly elliptic-oblong, glabrous or sparsely hairy on the back with distinctly fimbriate margins; corolla is 5-lobed funnel-shaped, 1.5 cm long, glabrous, color variable around the world, pink or pale red to purple in the Philippines, and in Costa Rica may be pale red to violet, or white with a deep red-violet throat with contrasting white stamens and stigmas; stamens inserted in tube of corolla; filaments hairy at the base; ovary 2- to 4-celled, conical, densely pubescent; ovules 2 to 4; fruit a capsule, depressed globose with sharp point, bristly hairy; seeds 4 or less, 3.5 mm long, diameter 6 mm, hard, shiny, brown.  Distinguishing features of the plant are 3-lobed leaves, stems with milky sap, and the hirsute or hairy ovary" (Holm et al., 1997; p. 420).

"Usually small, herbaceous twiner, often on grasses or low shrubs, not high-climbing, with milky sap and rather small flowers; leaves cordate, acuminate, entire or 3-lobed, mostly 2-5 cm long (but up to 12 cm), longer than wide; petiole as long as blade or longer by half; stems somewhat angled, glabrous or pubescent; flowers 1 or few on peduncles as much as 10 cm long; calyx-lobes lanceolate acute, limb not broad; capsule about 6 mm wide, pubescent; seeds glabrous or with a few minute hairs"  (Stone, 1970; p. 494).

Habitat/ecology:  "It is found in upland cultivated crops, grasslands, waysides and waste places, and because of its creeping, twining habit , may overwhelm other vegetation in farmer's fields and in natural areas.  It is found from sea level to 750 m altitude" (Holm et al., 1997; p. 418).  "In various habitats from open, sunny hillsides to relatively dense forest in partial sun or deep shade" (Wiggins & Porter, 1971; pp. 379-380).

"In Guam usually in old pastures or in savannahs" (Stone, 1970; p. 494).  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in low elevation, dry to mesic, disturbed sites" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 559-560). Arid lowlands in the Galápagos Islands (McMullen, 1999; p. 313). In New Guinea, "a weed of roadsides, hedges and gardens; common in a few coastal areas" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 92).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Tropical America (West Indies per Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 559-560), now weedy throughout the tropics (Stone, 1970; p. 494).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 226)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 226)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1946) (voucher ID: PTBG 30969) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Fefan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 226)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 15) Voucher cited: Lorence 8132A (PTBG) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1997) (voucher ID: PTBG 27722) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba L.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 226)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 100) Voucher cited: Glassman 2773 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 81) Vouchers cited: S.F. Glassman 2773 (BISH), D.H. Lorence 9493 (PTBG) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2006) (voucher ID: PTBG 44900) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 226)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1968) (voucher ID: BNM 1175) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1992) (voucher ID: PTBG 23270) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba
French Polynesia Clipperton Island	Clipperton (Arue, Avera) Island		Sachet, M.-H. (1962) (p. 93)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 494) Vouchers cited: Stone 4712 (GUAM), Stone 4838 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 226)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L./Bartlett, Randal T. (2002) (p. 6) Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer H40021 (BISH), Oppenheimer H40025 (BISH) Locally common roadside weed.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 559-561)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 22) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H100644 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 559-561)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2006) (p. 11) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H30417 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 559-561) Voucher cited: Martin & Pemberton s. n. (BISH)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. Raymond (1990) (p. 37)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 226)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (pp. 45-46) Rare. Vouchers cited: Fosberg 39487, Whistler 11186, Whistler 11224
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. Raymond (1990) (p. 37)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R. (1959) (p. 6) Voucher cited: Fosberg 39487 (US)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1998) (voucher ID: PTBG 44986) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 43) Voucher: BMW 7072(BISH, CHR, BRI)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Angaur (Ngeaur) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 226)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Angaur (Ngeaur) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 103)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Angaur (Ngeaur) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 60)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 101)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 60)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 226)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 98)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1968) (voucher ID: BNM 292) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba L.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1991) (voucher ID: BNM 99999996) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1977) (voucher ID: BNM 10021) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba L.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 226)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 98)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 60)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 98)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Peleliu (Beliliou) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 60) Voucher: Lorence 9754 (PTBG, BNM, NY)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Peleliu (Beliliou) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 46) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba L.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 92) Common in a few coastal areas.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 77)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 368) Common in waste places, borders of thickets, etc., in and about towns at low and medium altitudes.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 83)
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Midway Atoll	Midway Atoll	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 559-561)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 48-49)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 48-49)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 77)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 421)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 421)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 421)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 421)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 421)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Roadsides or fields; 0-800 m. Anhui, Guangdong, S. Shaanxi, Zhejiang.
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 223) In thickets, on grassy hillslopes or along roadside.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 77)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 187)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 418)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 418)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 51) Naturalised
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 418)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 418)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Roadsides or fields; 0-800 m.
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 77)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced invasive	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 117)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (p. 27)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 37872) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea triloba L.

Comments:  Can be introduced as a contaminant in rice (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 559-560).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Ipomoea triloba, please let us know.