| Author | Michaux | |
| Distribution | Formerly collected at two sites in the town of Southport (Brunswick County), in 1966 and 1970. No more recent records. Some references consider this as likely of South American origin, and with U.S. records being not native. Most seem to consider it native to southeastern U.S. In August of 2022, Weakley asserted that I. macrorhiza is endemic to the Southeastern US and does not occur elsewhere.
This is a Southern species of near-coastal areas, ranging formerly to southeastern NC, and south to southern FL and MS.
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| Abundance | Historical, with the last record in 1970. This is a State Special Concern - Historical species, and the State Rank is -- naturally -- SH (historical). | |
| Habitat | This is a species of coastal areas, but it is not restricted to beaches and dunes as are I. imperati and I. brasiliensis. It can be found in disturbed areas, shell middens, edges of thickets and in hammocks, and other maritime places. | |
| Phenology | Blooms in June and July, and fruits soon after flowering. | |
| Identification | This is a rather tomentose species, with leaves that are not at all thick and shiny, as in those other two beach species. It is an herbaceous vine growing to 10-15 feet long, along the ground or over other vegetation by twining. The leaves are alternate, large, and thin, mostly somewhat triangular with occasional cordate basal lobes, and a serrated margin. The axillary flowers are tubular, with a flaring mouth, generally white with a purple center, and about 2.5 inches across and long. The thin and triangular leaves, along with a white flower with a purple throat, should be enough for identification, if the species is ever found in NC again. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | None, though there is some controversy about its provenance in NC and much of the US. Weakley (2018) considers it as native.
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| Other Common Name(s) | Indian-midden Morning-glory, Pink Moonvine | |
| State Rank | SH | |
| Global Rank | G3 | |
| State Status | SC-H | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | | |
| USACE-emp | | |
