Ipomoea

Ipomoea(/ˌɪpəˈmiː.ə,-oʊ-/)is the largestgenusin the plant familyConvolvulaceae, with over 600species. It is a large and diverse group, with common names includingmorning glory,water convolvulusor water spinach,sweet potato,bindweed,moonflower, etc.The genus occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and comprisesannualandperennialherbaceous plants,lianas,shrubs, and smalltrees; most of the species are twiningclimbing plants.
Their most widespread common name is morning glory, but some species in related genera bear that same common name and someIpomoeaspecies are known by different common names. Those formerly separated inCalonyction(Greekκαλόςkalós"good" andνύξ,νυκτόςnúx,nuktós, "night") are called moonflowers.The nameIpomoeais derived from the Ancient Greekἴψ, meaning'woodworm', andὅμοιος(hómoios), meaning "resembling". It refers to their twining habit.
Human uses ofIpomoeainclude:
Humans useIpomoeaspp. for their content of medical andpsychoactivecompounds, mainlyalkaloids.Some species are renowned for their properties infolk medicineandherbalism; for example, Vera Cruz jalap (I. jalapa) and Tampico jalap (I. simulans) are used to producejalap, acatharticpreparation accelerating the passage ofstool.Kiribadu ala(giant potato,I. mauritiana) is one of the many ingredients ofchyawanprash, the ancientAyurvedictonic called "the elixir of life"for its wide-ranging properties.
The leaves ofI. batatasare eaten as a vegetable, and have been shown to slow oxygenation of LDLs, with some similar potential health benefits to green tea and grape polyphenols.
Other species were and still are used as potententheogens. Seeds of Mexican morning glory (tlitliltzin,I. tricolor) were thus used byAztecsandZapotecsinshamanisticandpriestlydivinationrituals, and at least by the former also as a poison, to give the victim a "horror trip" (see alsoAztec entheogenic complex).Beach moonflower(I. violacea) was also used thusly, and thecultivarscalled 'Heavenly Blue', touted today for their psychoactive properties, seem to represent an indeterminable assembly ofhybridsof these two species.
Ergolinederivatives (lysergamides) are probably responsible for the entheogenic activity.Ergine(LSA),isoergine,D-lysergic acid N-(α-hydroxyethyl)amideandlysergolhave been isolated fromI. tricolor,I. violaceaand/orpurple morning glory(I. purpurea); although these are often assumed to be the cause of the plants' effects, this is not supported by scientific studies, which show although they arepsychoactive, they are not notablyhallucinogenic.Alexander ShulgininTiHKALsuggestsergonovineis responsible, instead. It has verified psychoactive properties, though as yet other undiscovered lysergamides possibly are present in the seeds.
Though most often noted as "recreational" drugs, thelysergamidesare also of medical importance.Ergonovineenhances the action ofoxytocin, used to stillpost partumbleeding. Ergine induces drowsiness and a relaxed state, so might be useful in treatinganxiety disorder. WhetherIpomoeaspecies are  useful sources of these compounds remains to be determined. In any case, in some jurisdictions, certainIpomoeaare regulated, e.g. by theLouisiana State Act 159, which bans cultivation ofI. violaceaexcept for ornamental purposes.
Manyherbivoresavoid morning glories such asIpomoea, as the highalkaloidcontent makes these plants unpalatable, if nottoxic. Nonetheless,Ipomoeaspecies are used as food plants by thecaterpillarsof certainLepidoptera(butterflies and moths). For a selection of diseases of the sweet potato (I. batatas), many of which also infect other members of this genus, seeList of sweet potato diseases.
The species ofIpomoeainterfere with each other's pollination. Pollen from different species compete in each other's reproductive processes, imposing afitness cost.