Bushy morning glory
| Bushy morning glory | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bushy morning glory ( Ipomoea leptophylla ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Ipomoea leptophylla | ||||||||||||
| Torr. |
The Buschige morningglory ( Ipomoea leptophylla ) is a species in the genus of Morningglory ( Ipomoea ).
description
The Bushy Morning Glory is one of the wind plants (Convolvulaceae), even if it is growing because of the adjustment to their tree-poor habitat upright rather than overcoming, but not woody . The quite numerous individual shoots emanating from the central taproot become up to a meter long, and longer if growing conditions are favorable. Their growth is initially creeping, but leaves and shoot tips have a tendency to straighten upwards, as do the trumpet-like flowers, which stand individually or in pairs. Perennial.
To protect against evaporation, the foliage is reduced to narrow, gray-green cords that are about as long as the flowers , about 5 to 6 centimeters. The alternate leaves stand upright on initially prostrate shoots that are erect at the ends. The leaf margin is entire.
The funnel-shaped flowers open in the morning and wither in the evening. The diameter of the pink to purple flowers is between 5 and 7 centimeters. They stand axially and are radial symmetry with overgrown petals. The flowering period extends from May to June.
After flowering, inconspicuous, rounded capsule fruits form .
Distribution and location requirements
The bushy morning glory grows on poor sandy soils, scattered on wastelands and dry fields, especially in South Dakota (there especially in the Pine Ridge Reservation ), in Nebraska , south to Texas and New Mexico , west to Montana , in the southeast from Wyoming and eastern Colorado . Often found on the hillside of the prairie.
ecology
The upright, densely branched cushions of the bushy morning glory reach about knee height. As a result, they offer protection to many small animals, such as insects and rodents.
Another special feature is the extremely deep-rooted , Barrel swollen storage root, similar to the related sweet potato , which they name their "One Root" and the Lakota designation "Potbelly plant" (Pejuta Nige Tanka) owes. These peculiarities are adaptations to the habitat of the prairie ( Great Plains ), in which, on the one hand, there are hardly any opportunities to climb up other plants and, on the other hand, survival on extremely nutrient-poor, dry soils has to be mastered. The root, the middle part of which is carrot-like thickened and protruding straight down into the ground, can reach a length of 2 meters and weigh 100 pounds. Older roots lignify and can have a diameter of over 40 centimeters at the thickest point. Weaker lateral roots branch off from the wrinkled bark in irregular whorls . This widely branched root system, which stores nutrients and water, makes the plant extremely drought-resistant .
use
The long, thickened roots of this morning glory species were used by the Lakota as a medicinal plant; it should help against stomach problems and possibly also arthritis. Strips of the root were also used to bite into when there was great pain in order to endure it. Younger, not yet lignified roots were considered an emergency ration, similar to potatoes . In addition, the root was used as a kind of tinder and embers storage, as it glows for a long time. The Lakota never removed the entire root, but always left part of the root stock so that it should regenerate again and sustainable use of the plant was possible.
proof
literature
- Melvin R. Gilmore: Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region . Lincoln 1991, ISBN 0-8032-7034-8 .
- James R. Johnson, Gary E. Larson: Grassland Plants of South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains . Brookings 1999, ISBN 0-913062-06-5 .
- Rebecca Netzel: Animal Nation and Plant Nation, A Fieldguide for Lakóta Children and for all those adults who still care about Creation . Trier 2007, ISBN 978-3-88476-945-4 .
- Theodore van Bruggen: Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Plants of the Northern Plains and Black Hills . 5th edition. Rapid City 2003, ISBN 0-912410-05-1 .
- Susan J. Wernert (Ed.): North American Wildlife . 15th edition. Pleasantville 1991, ISBN 0-89577-102-0 .
Individual evidence
- ^ Susan J. Wernert, p. 416
- ↑ James R. Johnson, Gary E. Larson, p. 164
- ^ Theodore Van Bruggen, p. 92
- ↑ Melvin R. Gilmore, pp. 58f.
