Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for White-edge Morning-glory - Ipomoea nil   (L.) Roth
Members of Convolvulaceae:
Members of Ipomoea with account distribution info or public map:
Flora of SE USGoogle Images
Section 6 » Family Convolvulaceae
Author(L.) Roth
DistributionThere are 2 specimens at SERNEC from Harnett County, but both are I. hederacea. Weakley (2024) shows it as not established in NC, with an asterisk only. However, there are a number of Research Grade photos now on iNaturalist, and thus it does have a place now on the NC flora list.

Native to Tropical America.
AbundanceVery rare now, essentially in the Piedmont so far.
HabitatDisturbed places.
Phenology"Dec-Jul (-Nov)" (Weakley 2024).
IdentificationThis species is very similar to the perhaps native I. hederacea, with light to medium blue flowers. Weakley's (2024) key separates these by I. nil having "Sepals ca. 3 cm long at anthesis, gradually narrowed upwards, the long acute tips suberect, straight, scarcely spreading; corolla 4-4.5 cm long; peduncles long or short" whereas I. hederacea has "Sepals < 2 cm long at anthesis, abruptly narrowed upwards, the long subacute tips strongly spreading or recurved outwards; corolla < 3.5 cm long; peduncles very short". Thus, Ipomoea nil has larger flowers and different sepals than does I. hederacea.
Taxonomic Comments
Other Common Name(s)Japanese Morning-glory
State RankSE
Global RankGU
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USACE-emp
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