Ipomoea purpurea

American Indian Names  Among the Pawnee this is known as "Kahts Tuwiriki" which means whirlwind medicine. Some Common Names for Ipomoea purpurea are: Morning Glory, common Morning Glory and Tall Morning Glory.

Morning Glory has a flower that can be purple, blue, red and white. The flowers are large and funnel-shaped. The leaves are heart-shaped with entire margins and the blades are simple, rounded-cordate to ovate-cordate(1-11cm long, 2-12 cm wide). The stems are Twining, climbing, branched or simple, usually pubescent, and sometimes with erect hairs up to 4mm long). The Morning Glory seed is 4-5 mm long, brownish-black, granular and minutely pubescent.

Location and Habitat

Morning Glory is a plant that is found throughout Nebraska. Morning Glory is mostly found in cultivated fields, gardens, waste places and roadsides. It is also found primarily in Southeastern Nebraska, but it has been planted and escaped throughout the state. On the rez, morning glory is found around the old baseball field.

Uses Morning Glory is planted as an ornamental. The seed itself is very poisonous. In Historical Times the seeds were used as a laxative until they found out that it contained an LSD-like substance, which caused extreme illness and hallucinations in humans. It also contains purgative principles which may cause mild distress in swine. The seed is anthelmintic, diuretic and laxative. It is used in the treatment oedema, oliguria, ascariasis and constipation. This has also been used medicinally in the treatment of various mental disorders.

This Page was last update: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 10:18:32 AM
This page was originally posted: 10/31/06; 10:53:01 AM.
Copyright 2008 Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation

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