Ipomoea tricolor

Alkaloids

Ipomoea tricolor seeds contains LSA and LSH among other alkaloids due to the presence of a symbiotic fungus, Periglandula ipomoeae, which produces them.

Description

It is an herbaceous annual or perennial twining liana growing to 2 - tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, 3-7 cm long with a 1.5-6 cm long petiole. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, 4 - in diameter, most commonly blue with a white to golden yellow centre.

I. tricolor and many rarer species of morning glory, contain ergoline alkaloids, predominantly ergine. Some supermarkets have stopped carrying I. tricolor seeds because of this.

Cultivation and uses

In cultivation, the species is very commonly grown misnamed as Ipomoea violacea, which is actually a different, though related, species. I. tricolor does not tolerate temperatures below 5 C, and so in temperate regions is usually grown as an annual. It is in any case a relatively short-lived plant. It prefers a warm, sheltered, sunny position such as a south- or west-facing wall.

Ingesting any part of the plant may cause discomfort.

Numerous cultivars of I. tricolor with different flower colours have been selected for use as ornamental plants; widely grown examples include:

• ‘Blue Star’
• ‘Flying Saucers’
• ‘Heavenly Blue’
• ‘Heavenly Blue Improved’
• ‘Pearly Gates’
• ‘Rainbow Flash’
• ‘Skylark’
• ‘Summer Skies’
• ‘Wedding Bells’

The cultivar 'Heavenly Blue' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Weed control

Ipomoea tricolor has phytotoxic effects which inhibit seedling growth in weeds. In Mexico, farmers promote the growth of I. tricolor as a cover plant. It prevents weeds and unwanted plants from growing. When it is time to plant crops, this plant is incorporated into the soil. Although it is toxic to weeds, it does not affect crops such as sugarcane.

Chemical deterrent used to discourage ingestion

It is rumored that I. tricolor seeds are coated with a chemical that induces sickness so as to dissuade people from using them as a drug, but this is probably a rumor that stems from several factors:

• I. tricolor seeds, by themselves, induce sickness as a result of glycoresins and the very ergolines that are desired by users.{{Citation |last1=Schardl |first1=Christopher L. |title=Chapter 2 Ergot Alkaloids – Biology and Molecular Biology |date=2006 |journal=The Alkaloids: Chemistry and Biology |volume=63 |pages=45–86 |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1099483106630022 |access-date=2024-11-30 |publisher=Elsevier |language=en |doi=10.1016/s1099-4831(06)63002-2 |isbn=978-0-12-469563-4 |last2=Panaccione |first2=Daniel G. |last3=Tudzynski |first3=Paul |pmid=17133714 | postscript= “Clavines are thought to contribute substantially to convulsive ergotism, since C. fusiformis ergots, which possess clavines, but no 1 or lysergyl amides, cause convulsive symptoms (26). However, the ergopeptines are known to produce similar symptoms, and are also thought to cause gangrenous ergotism (6). The occurrence of convulsive ergotism without dry gangrene suggests that other clavine or lysergyl alkaloids are involved, or that individual effects of specific ergopeptines may give clinically different syndromes (6).” II. Through the Ages: A History of Ergot Alkaloid Use, Abuse, and Poisoning, p. 50 |url-access=subscription }}

• Such is done to other commonly available substances that can induce effects, specifically gas dusters and acetone (which have bitterant added) and denatured alcohol.

• Chemical coatings are added to garden seeds to prevent fungal growth (e.g. neonicotinoids, Thiram, and ApronMaxx®).

• Packets of I. tricolor seeds are known to have a warning that the seeds are toxic.

Methyl mercury type compounds have been specified in the rumors, but a 1964 article conveys that such compounds were only used in the past and that the majority "insecticide" at the time of publication was "quite an innocuous substance." There's no evidence that the seeds are coated with a chemical deterrent.

Image:Ipomoea_tricolor-WeddingBells_20071011_01.png|'Wedding Bells' Image:Ipomoea_tricolor-WeddingBells_20071011_02.png|'Wedding Bells' close-up

Colour change

In Ipomoea tricolor 'Heavenly Blue', the colour of the flower changes during blossom according to an increase in vacuolar pH. This shift, from red to blue, is induced by chemical modifications affecting the anthocyanin molecules present in the petals.

References

References

1. (2008). "The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants". Dorling Kindersley.
2. Steiner, Ulrike, and Eckhard Leistner. "Ergoline alkaloids in convolvulaceous host plants originate from epibiotic clavicipitaceous fungi of the genus Periglandula." ''Fungal Ecology'' 5.3 (2012): 316-321. Available at: [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eckhard-Leistner-My-Name-Is-Not-Leister/publication/251705795_Ergoline_Alkaloids_in_convolvulaceous_host_plants_originate_from_epibiotic_clavicipitaceous_fungi_of_the_genus_Periglandula/links/5af409334585157136c9af32/Ergoline-Alkaloids-in-convolvulaceous-host-plants-originate-from-epibiotic-clavicipitaceous-fungi-of-the-genus-Periglandula.pdf]
3. Manitz, Hermann. (January 1977). "Was ist Ipomoea violacea L.?". Feddes Repertorium.
4. Eich, Eckart. (2008). "Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae: Secondary Metabolites". Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
5. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Ipomoea tricolor''". Royal Horticultural Society.
6. (July 2017). "AGM Plants - Ornamental". Royal Horticultural Society.
7. (1995). "Allelopathic potential of Ipomoea tricolor (Convolvulaceae) in a greenhouse experiment". Journal of Chemical Ecology.
8. "Chemistry in Botanical Classification: Medicine and Natural Sciences: Medicine and Natural Sciences". Elsevier.
9. (October 2017). "Resin glycosides from Convolvulaceae plants". Journal of Natural Medicines.
10. Ingram, Albert L.. (1964-12-28). "Morning Glory Seed Reaction". JAMA.
11. (2005). "The Involvement of Tonoplast Proton Pumps and Na+(K+)/H+ Exchangers in the Change of Petal Color During Flower Opening of Morning Glory, ''Ipomoea tricolor'' cv. Heavenly Blue". Plant and Cell Physiology.
12. (1995). "Cause of blue petal colour". Nature.
13. (2009). "Synchrony between flower opening and petal-color change from red to blue in morning glory, Ipomoea tricolor cv. Heavenly Blue". Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B.