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GENERAL

Origin

:

tropical

Vigour

:

fast growing

Humidity

:

semi-humid, very

humid, extremely

humid

Propagation :

direct sowing,

sowing and

pricking out,

cuttings

Maintenance :

low

CONDITIONS

Urban climate :

resistant

Dessication :

vulnerable

Stagnant water :

vulnerable

Irrigation

:

medium

Salinity/ppm :

high (5000 ppm)

Hardiness

:

0°C

SHAPE

Type

:

climbers

Height

:

0.2 m-5 m

Spread

:

3 m-5 m

Foliage

:

evergreen

FLOWER

Colour

:

deep pink, deep

purple, white

Size

:

5 cm - 9 cm

Period

:

June - September

FRUIT

Type of fruit :

capsule

Fruit size

:

1 cm

The Cairo Morning Glory grows creeping as a groundcover, trailing over edges or twining as a

vine up to 5 metres high. This fast grower originates from tropical Africa and Asia, where it is

sometimes called Mile a Minute Vine. Its stems are glabrous and tend to root when they touch

soil. The evergreen, alternate leaves are pinnately lobed, round in shape and some 7 cm long. They

form dense blankets spotted with many funnel-shaped flowers up to 9 cm across in purple, pink

or white during summer. The fruit is a brown capsule 1 cm across with hairy seeds separated in

valves. These are used for the most common way to propagate this plant and may also self-seed to

naturalise on disturbed ground, preferably a moist site. Full to partial sun suits it best; however,

it thrives in shade but refuses to bloom properly. Fertile ground and occasional fertilising is wel-

come. If the soil drains well, the Cairo Morning Glory grows rapidly with frequent irrigation and

does not object to sprinklers. It grows tubers, from which it readily recovers if frost has killed

the leaves and twigs. These tubers may be eaten cooked or roasted, but are not as tasty as those

of its relative Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas). The twigs were formerly used to make ropes. It

withstands hard pruning best in early spring, but does not demand much attention if there are

no slow-growing plants nearby that might be overgrown. It is often seen in Arriyadh growing

rampant over walls and fences.

164

Ipomoea cairica,

Convolvulaceae

Cairo Morning Glory,

Mile-a-Minute Vine