Ipomoea alba L., Convolvulaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Calonyction aculeatum (L.) House; Calonyction album (L.) House

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: alaihai-tasi

Chinese: yue guang hua

English: moonflower, moonvine, morning glory, white-flowered morning glory

Fijian: wa ia

French: liane bla

Hawaiian: koali pehu

Japanese: yakai-sō, yoru-gao

Other: to buan

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Climbing perennial vine with cordate, ovate, entire or slightly trilobed leaves, glabrous or nearly so, on long petioles (5-15 cm), blades mostly 6-20 cm long and 3/4-4/5 as wide, acuminate or rarely obtuse; inflorescence axillary, several-flowered; flowers large, white, blooming only at night, withering in the dawn or early morning, rarely as late as 11 a.m.; corolla 7-15 cm long, 11-15 cm wide across the expanded, webbed lobes; sepals 5-15 mm long, mucronate; ovary 2-celled; capsule 2.5 cm long, seeds glabrous"  (Stone, 1970; pp. 490-491).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in usually moist areas, 1-610m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 554).  In Fiji, "found from near sea level (but apparently not directly on beaches) to about 750 m in dense forest and thickets" (Smith, 1991; pp. 58-59).  "Uncommon to occasional in disturbed places" (Whistler, 1988; p. 13). In New Caledonia, "très abondante en lisière de forêt hygrophile sur schistes ou sur alluvions sédimentaires très fines" (Heine, 1984; pp. 80-83). Arid lowlands and moist uplands in the Galápagos Islands (McMullen, 1999; p. 295). In Australia, "may have the potential to colonise the edges of rainforests and invade any gaps created within rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest.  It may be well suited to sub-tropical and tropical, coastal areas of Queensland and northern New South Wales" (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 170).

Propagation:  Seed and adventitious roots (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 170).

Native range:  "Probably native to Mexico, pantropical through cultivation" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 554). Florida (U.S.), Mexico, Central and South America; cultivated and widely naturalized in tropics (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (pp. 7, 12) A small, isolated infestation. Voucher: Flynn 6610 (PTBG)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1999) (voucher ID: PTBG 296) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea alba
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced	Pickard, J. (1984) (p. 206)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 19) "Widely introduced as a garden plant and escaped from cultivation". Vouchers cited: J.D. McComish 193 (K); 1898, J.H. Maiden (NSW)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 8) "Widely introduced as a garden plant and escaped from cultivation". Vouchers cited: R.M. Laing (CHR), W.R. Sykes NI 549 (CHR), J.D. McComish 199 (K)
Cook Islands Cook Islands	Cook Islands	cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Darwin Islands	Darwin Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Fernandina Group	Fernandina Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Alcedo, Isabela Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Cerro Azul, Isabela Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Wolf, Isabela Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Santiago Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 80) Voucher cited: E. Albert 90 (NY, PTBG) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2004) (voucher ID: PTBG 43709) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea alba
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ngau Island	uncertain if native	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 58-59) Voucher cited: Smith 7847
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	uncertain if native	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 58-59) Vouchers cited: Seemann 332, DA 14413
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	uncertain if native	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 58-59) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 331, Smith 5525, Seemann 332
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: D.H. Lorence, L. Dunn, S.P. Perlman, K.R. Wood & J.-Y. Meyer 9035 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 39342) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea alba
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Mohotani (Mohotane, Mohotane) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2004) (voucher ID: PTBG 43351) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea alba
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 39385) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea alba
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 39507) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea alba
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 84)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	probably introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 490-491)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1994) (voucher ID: PTBG 22059) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea alba L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1994) (voucher ID: PTBG 22462) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea alba
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 554)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 554)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 554)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 554)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 554)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 554)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
New Caledonia Îles Bélep (Belep Islands)	Île Art	introduced invasive cultivated	Heine, Heino (1984) (p. 81) Voucher cited: Montrouzier s.n. Cultivée ± naturalisée
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive cultivated	Heine, Heino (1984) (p. 81) Voucher cited: Balansa 1674 Cultivée ± naturalisée.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	Heine, Heino (1984) (p. 81) Vouchers cited: Däniker 402, Guillaumin & Baumann 10291, Lécard s.n., MacKee 12651, Mackee 22776, Raoul s.n., Schmid 754, Vieillard 1016, Vieillard 3029 Cultivée ± naturalisée
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive cultivated	Heine, Heino (1984) (p. 81) Voucher cited: Pancher 237 Cultivée ± naturalisée
New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) New Guinea Island	New Guinea Island	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Naturalized
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 98)
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 557) "known only from a small population in old plantations in Denham Bay, Raoul Island".
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago		Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 461) Common, in light bush, at roadsides, also on the strand-plain, but not on the beach.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Naturalized
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 369) As Calonyction album. In thickets, often near the sea.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 13)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Parham, B. E. V. (1972)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 83)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (pp. 15-16) Vouchers cited: Moseley s.n., Setchell & Parks 15610, Soakai 718, Soakai 814
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 224-225) Voucher cited: Setchell & Parks 15610
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (pp. 15-16) Voucher cited: Crosby 133
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 224-225) Voucher cited: Yuncker 16193

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)	New South Wales	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 170)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 170)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Wet forests, watercourses, disturbed areas, cultivated and also naturalized sporadically. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangsu, Jaingxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Naturalized
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 187)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Naturalized
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Naturalized
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Naturalized

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

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