Ipomoea aquatica Forssk., Convolvulaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Weed risk assessment for the United States (PDF format).

Other Latin names:  Ipomoea reptans sensu J. W. Parham in Dept. Agr. Fiji Bull. 35.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: cancon, kangkun, kangkung, kankan

Chinese: weng cai

Chuukese: aseri, seeri, seri, seri

English: Chinese water spinach, creeping swamp morning glory, kang kong, morning glory, pink convolvulus, potato-vine, swamp cabbage, swamp morningglory, ung ts'oi, ung-choi, water convolvulus, water morning-glory, water spinach

Fijian: luve ni tombithi, ndrinikava, ota karisa, ota karisi, wa kumala

French: liseron d'eau, patate aquatique, patate d'eau

Hindi: karamua

I-Kiribati: te kang kong, te ruku

Japanese: yosai

Maori (Cook Islands): rukau taviri

Nauruan: lorenzo

Other: kang koung

Palauan: kangkum, kangum, kankum

Pohnpeian: kangkong

Samoan: kapisi vai, kapisi vai

Spanish: espinaca acuática

Ulithian: kangkong

Yapese: kangking, kangkong

Habit:  aquatic herb

Description:  "An aquatic herbaceous, glabrous perennial or sometimes an annual when growing in an unfavorable site; stems creeping on mud or floating on ponds or ditches, may be 3 m in length, hollow or spongy, often rooting at nodes; leaves alternate, variable, oblong-ovate, or lanceolate, with base hastate, cordate, or truncate, basal lobes may be rounded or acute, apex acute or obtuse, margins may be slightly sinuate, 3 to 15 cm long and 1 to 10 cm wide, long-petioled 3 to 20 cm; flowers axillary, erect, perfect, large and showy; pedicels usually 1- or 2-flowered, 2 to 10 cm long with minute bracts at  base; sepals 5, united at base, glabrous, persistent, 8 mm long, oblong, obtuse or acute, usually equal in length, may be brownish-pink; corolla funnel-shaped; petals united, 3 to 5 cm long, 2.5 cm or more in diameter, pink or pale lilac or purple (rarely white), often with dark purple center, 5 lobed; stamens 5, alternate to corolla lobes, inserted on corolla near base, shorter than petals; filaments slender and hairy at base; anthers dehisce longitudinally, pollen globular; ovary superior, glabrous, 2-celled (sometimes 4) with 4 ovules; style simple; stigma capitate and simple with 2 or 3 rounded lobes; fruit a spherical or ovoid capsule 6 to 10 mm long, thin walled, surrounded by persistent sepals, dehiscing by 4 (rarely 6) valves, or irregularly; seeds 4 or less, grayish, densely pubescent or at times glabrous"  (Holm et al., 1997; p. 414).

"Creeping or floating commonly subaquatic vine; only in fresh water; leaves variable, commonly oblong-lanceolate, the base hastate or truncate, commonly 5-15 cm long and 2-10 cm wide, on long petioles 3-10 cm long; flowers several in cymes, peduncles to nearly 20 cm, pedicels 2-6 cm; calyx-lobes obtuse, ovate-oblong, just under 1 cm long; corolla usually 4-5 cm long, pinkish-violet, darker in the throat (rarely nearly white); fruit to 1 cm long; seeds finely pubescent" (Stone, 1970; p. 491).

Habitat/ecology:  Fresh water aquatic.  Cultivated for edible leaves.  "A marginal, creeping, perennial aquatic weed that may spread over the surface of a pond or of an irrigation or drainage ditch. [It] can behave as an aquatic, semi-aquatic, or a terrestrial plant with reduced leaves and stems in dry months.  When soil moisture is lacking, it may appear to be in hibernation.  It can be found in flooded lowland fields and marshes, in dense masses in rice field ditches, or wherever there is soggy soil.  Above all else, it is a principal marginal creeper on the banks of muddy streams and ponds, awaiting the opportunity to reach out over the water surfaces to form mats with other vegetation" (Holm et al., 1997; pp. 412, 414).

In Hawai‘i, "cultivated and sparingly naturalized in streams, ponds, and taro paddies" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 555, 1873). In New Caledonia, "cultivé pour les feuilles comestibles, vendues au Marché de Nouméa, parfois spontané" (MacKee, 1994; p. 40).

Propagation:  Water-borne seed and rooting from nodes and pieces.

Native range:  Old World tropics.

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	Pagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 37) Voucher cited: Fosberg 31393 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 148467) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 148466) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 39120) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 148468) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1944) (voucher ID: BISH 696878) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Chuuk Islands		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1947) (voucher ID: BISH 148462) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Puluwat (Pwonowót) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Manner, H. I./Mallon, E. (1989) (p. 56) Voucher cited: Manner & Mallon 284 (GUAM)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Satawan Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Satawan Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 148463) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (p. 7)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 148458) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1949) (voucher ID: BISH 148461) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 429622) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 15) Cultivated, Malem; naturalized near lelu. Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 80) Vouchers cited: M.J. Balick 4152 (NY, PTBG), K. Nagata 1480 (BISH), L. Stemmermann 3437 (BISH)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 129621) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1977) (voucher ID: BISH 422316) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 410836) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1948) (voucher ID: BISH 148464) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1980) (voucher ID: BISH 586785) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ngau Island	probably native cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 59) Voucher cited: Smith 7967
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ngau Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 148404) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	probably native cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 59) Vouchers cited: DA 13489, DA 10463, Harwood 11
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1963) (voucher ID: BISH 33894) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Mbalavu Island	probably native cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 59) Voucher cited: DA 10245
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	probably native cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 59) Vouchers cited: DA 11389, DA 9436, DA 10543, DA 9537, DA 422, DA 9228 (McKee 2793), DA 5653, DA 10585
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1956) (voucher ID: BISH 33893) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 84) Voucher cited: Moore 15
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10640 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1990) (voucher ID: BISH 643064) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 37206) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 84) Voucher cited: BRY 26520
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 84) Voucher cited: Florence 5364
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5364 (PAP) Naturalisée. De culture rare à Tahiti.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 492279) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 491)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1949) (voucher ID: BISH 148465) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 148469) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 148470) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1918) (voucher ID: BISH 148471) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 148472) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1918) (voucher ID: BISH 148473) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 438142) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2000) (p. 11) Voucher cited: C. Imada 99-27 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 555)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 555)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Abemama Atoll	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 29) Voucher: Imada 2003-179 (BISH 697790)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Abemama Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (2003) (voucher ID: BISH 697790) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222) Probably in cultivation. Presence not confirmed.
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kili (Kõle) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2006) (p. 7) "Rare; small patch of vines towards north end of the island, ocean road, probably planted in nearby wetland".
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 83)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (pp. 116-117) Voucher cited: Thaman & Manner 24 (SUVA)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 40) Vouchers cited: Baumann 11307, MacKee 21403, MacKee 33211
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 148459) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 573305) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 85)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 60) Voucher: Lorence 9907 (PFBG, BNM, NY, US)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 200) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 81)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1967) (voucher ID: BNM 276) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1968) (voucher ID: BNM 275) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 81)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 60)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 81)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Peleliu Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 222)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Peleliu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 148460) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced invasive cultivated	Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 463) Sporadic; near dwellings on swampy land, in ponds, ditches and slowly-flowing streams.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	possibly introduced invasive cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 368) In stagnant streams, fresh-water swamps, and pools; widely used as food, perhaps introduced.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Parham, B. E. V. (1972)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 83)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Shine, C./Reaser, J. K./Gutierrez, A. T., eds. (2003) (p. 166) Moderate invader.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 13) Voucher cited: Buelow 787
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 53)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 13) Voucher cited: Whistler 6031
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Midway Atoll	Sand Island	introduced cultivated	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd (2008) (pp. B-9)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive	Morat, Ph./Veillon, J.-M. (1985) Morat & Veillon, 1985, cited in Meyer, 2007

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	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 222)
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 412)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 412)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 187)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced	Weber, Ewald (2003) (p. 215)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 51) Weed of uncertain origin
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 412)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

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 cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 116) Possibly naturalized.
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Topp, J. M. W. (1988) (pp. 10-11)
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 37873) Taxon name on voucher: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2010) Naturalisée, potentiellement envahissant.
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2010) Envahissant principalement dans les milieux perturbés.

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)

Comments:  On US Federal noxious weed list.

Introduced to Samoa in 1956 per Parham (1972; p. 139).

Commonly used as a food plant in Asia.

Planting of this species in the State of Florida (U.S.) is prohibited by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (Hunsberger, 2001).

Control: 

Physical:  Mechanical removal.

Chemical:  "Chemical treatment with 2,4-D sodium salt, 2,4,5-T or MCPA"  (Weber, 2003; p. 215).

Additional information:
Photos and additional information at University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
Information from the Purdue University NewCROP web site.
Photo and additional information at the University of Guam "Plants of Guam" web site.
Information from the Global Invasive Species Database.
Information from the book "Identification and biology of non-native plants in Florida's natural areas" (PDF format).

Additional online information about Ipomoea aquatica is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Ipomoea aquatica as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Ipomoea aquatica may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1967. Voucher specimen #BNM276(Blackburn, B. 143).

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1968. Voucher specimen #BNM275(Blackburn, B. 171).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 0. Voucher specimen #BISH 148470 (collector unknown 236).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 0. Voucher specimen #BISH 148472 (Thompson, J.B. 48).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1918. Voucher specimen #BISH 148471 (Nelson, P. 236).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1918. Voucher specimen #BISH 148473 (Nelson, P. 236).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1944. Voucher specimen #BISH 696878 (Cameron, E.R.; collector's voucher number unknown).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 39120 (Fosberg, F.R. 25275).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 148458 (Fosberg, F.R. 24417).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 148459 (Fosberg, F.R. 25891).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 148460 (Fosberg, F.R. 25872).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 148468 (Hosaka, E.Y. 2912).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 573305 (Fosberg, F.R. 25891).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1947. Voucher specimen #BISH 148462 (Wong, C.C.Y. 210).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1948. Voucher specimen #BISH 148464 (Wong, C.C.Y 310).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1949. Voucher specimen #BISH 148461 (Anderson, D. 754).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1949. Voucher specimen #BISH 148465 (Anderson, D. 39).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 148463 (Anderson, D. 1103).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 148466 (Fosberg, F.R. 31884).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 148467 (Fosberg, F.R. 31393).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 148469 (Fosberg, F.R. 31244).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 148404 (Smith, A.C. 7967).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1956. Voucher specimen #BISH 33893 (Nand, S. 10585).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1963. Voucher specimen #BISH 33894 (Kuruvoli, I. 13489).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1965. Voucher specimen #BISH 410836 (Fosberg, F.R. 46965).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1977. Voucher specimen #BISH 422316 (Nagata, K.M. 1480).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1978. Voucher specimen #BISH 129621 (Stemmermann, R.L. 3437).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1978. Voucher specimen #BISH 429622 (Stemmermann, R.L. 3434).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1978. Voucher specimen #BISH 438142 (Fosberg, F.R. 58338).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1980. Voucher specimen #BISH 586785 (Fosberg, F.R. 60034).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 492279 (Florence, J. 5364).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1990. Voucher specimen #BISH 643064 (Florence 10640).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 2003. Voucher specimen #BISH 697790 (C.Imada 2003-179).

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National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 1981. Voucher specimen #PTBG37206(Art Whistler W 4881).

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