Ipomoea nil
| Ipomoea nil | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 16' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Ipomoea nil (common name: japanese morning glory)
Propagation: Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water, or scarify the seed, and sow in individual pots in a greenhouse in early spring. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 22°c. Plants are extremely resentful of root disturbance, even when they are quite small, and should be potted up almost as soon as they germinate[1]. Grow them on fast in the greenhouse and plant them out into their permanent positions after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away actively.
Cultivation: Requires a fertile well-drained loam in a sunny position[2].
The plant is not frost hardy, but can be grown outdoors as a tender annual in temperate zones[2].
A very ornamental plant, there are several named varieties[2].
Closely related to I. purpurea[3].
Range: Pantropical.
Habitat: Thickets on mountain slopes, waysides, fields and hedges from sea level to 1600 metres in China[4].
Medicinal: The seed is anthelmintic, anticholinergic, antifungal, antispasmodic, antitumour, diuretic and laxative[5][6]. It is used in the treatment of oedema, oliguria, ascariasis and constipation[5]. The seed is also used as a contraceptive in Korea[6].
The seed contains small quantities of the hallucinogen LSD[2][1]. This has been used medicinally in the treatment of various mental disorders.
The pounded plant is used as a hair wash to rid the hair of lice[7].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Pharbitis nil
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea. World Health Organisation, 1998.
- ↑ Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.