Family: Convolvulaceae
Common names: Obscure morning glory, Small white morning glory, Wild petunia, Lesser glory, Tiruthali, Cheruthali, Ger-gawl, Pan bel, Siruthaali, Chiruthaali, Mukkutti vali, Vachaganda, Lakshmana
Obscure morning glory is a weed very commonly found in the tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Australia growing on roadsides, grasslands, disturbed areas, coastal regions, agricultural land, forest edges, and almost anywhere it can get a foothold.
They can be seen climbing on structures or on surrounding vegetation, also crawling along the ground, producing an abundance of creamy white flowers.
Plant Characteristics
These plants can grow to a height of 2-3 meters with a long, greenish-red stem trailing along the ground. They do not become woody, but stay thin and flexible enabling them to climb on structures.
Leaves of the Obscure morning glory are beautifully heart-shaped with a smooth margin. They are dark green in color, 5-8 cm long, and sometimes have thin, white hairs which are not very pronounced.
When these plants start spreading on the ground, the leaves are not very close to each other. But when they are established in the soil, the stem branches to produce thick clusters of leaves.
Flowers of the Obscure morning glory are very pretty, like all flowers in the Morning Glory family. They are creamy white and funnel-shaped with a dark red colored center, and radiating yellow lines from the center in between the petals.
These flowers have beautiful origami-like folds that are also typical of the Morning Glory family of Ipomoeas like Ipomoea nil or Blue morning glory, Ipomoea violacea or Beach moonflower, Ipomoea pes-caprae or Beach morning glory, Ipomoea quamoclit or Cypress vine, and Ipomoea cairica or Coastal morning glory, some of the very common Morning glory plants seen in South India.
Obscure morning glory flowers are 3-5 cm in diameter blooming singly along the stem. These beautiful flowers blooming in plenty can attract pollinators like ants, bees, butterflies, and other insects to it. Like most Morning Glory flowers, they last only for a few hours before wilting, giving the plant its name.
Pollinated flowers produce small seed capsules that are 6-8 mm long, roughly spherical or egg-shaped with a pointy tip. Propagation through seeds is very effective, and the plant can self-propagate very easily, making it an invasive species in many countries.
Growing Tips
Obscure morning glory plants are considered as invasive weeds in many countries, especially in agricultural land and forest areas, where they can climb on the surrounding plants and choke them by cutting off sunlight.
But they can be grown in home gardens in pots or on the ground in controlled conditions where they cannot grow rampant. They need bright, direct sunlight for most part of the day, and they might not flower if grown in partial shade.
These plants are quite sturdy and can grow in a variety of growing conditions like poor soil, heavy rains, and weather fluctuations. They do not need regular watering since Obscure morning glory plants are resistant to drought.
Fertilize them once in 1-2 months before spring so that the plant flowers well. Trim any wayward branches so that they do not climb on the surrounding plants.
There is no need for pesticide application since these are sturdy weeds mostly resistant to pest infestations.
While growing them in home gardens, ensure that the plant has supporting structures like fences, trellises, or arbors to climb on. If allowed to climb on screens, they can create a dense wall of foliage and flowers, beautifying the place and also providing privacy to specific areas.
Uses of Ipomoea obscura
Obscure Morning Glory is used in traditional herbal medicine in the treatment of arsenic poisoning, menstrual disorders, uterine diseases, infertility, hair loss, and skin conditions. Leaves of the plant are considered useful since they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
These plants can be useful in conserving topsoil since their long stem and fibrous roots can prevent soil erosion in slopy areas. Their flowers can attract butterflies and insects to the garden, making them beneficial for other plants as well.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and stem cuttings.
Seeds collected from mature seedpods can germinate very quickly in moist soil.
Pieces of the stem cut from parent plants can root at the node to produce new plants. Since these are wild plants, it would be beneficial to get a little of the soil from where it is growing, and plant them in that soil rather than normal garden soil since they are adapted to those growing conditions.
Photographed at: GKVK University of Agriculture, Bangalore
