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Publication #SP 37

Scarlet Morningglory, Ipomoea hederifolia L.1

David W. Hall, Vernon V. Vandiver, and Jason A. Ferrell2

Classification

Common Name: Scarlet or Red Morningglory

Scientific Name: Ipomoea hederifolia L.

Family: Convolvulaceae, Morningglory Family

Seedling

The cotyledons are thickly U-shaped with lobes one half the length (Figure 1). They are on long stalks. The veins are visible on the upper surface.

Figure 1. 

Seedling, Scarlet Morningglory (Ipomoea hederfolia, L.)

Mature Plant

Scarlet morningglory is a twining, smooth to hairy annual vine (Figure 2). The leaf shape is extremely variable. The leaves are generally ovate in shape with pointed tips and heart-shaped bases and are commonly deeply 3-lobed. The flower stalks are usually as long as, or longer than, the subtending leaf. Each flower stalk may bear a simple flower or may have several flowers. The sepals (outer layer of the flower) are oblong and 1.5-3 mm long, excluding the sharp pointed tip. The tip may be as long as, or longer than, the broader portion below. The joined petals may be scarlet to yellowish to orange-red and from 2.5-4.5 cm in length. The fruit is a round capsule up to 8 mm in diameter containing a few seeds.

Figure 2. 

Mature Plant, Scarlet Morningglory (Ipomoea hederfolia, L.)

History

Ipomoea is derived from the Greek words ips and homoios meaning worm-like, referring to the vining habit. The Latin word hederifolia means having leaves like Ivy.

Habitat

This plant occurs in moist hammocks, thickets and disturbed sites throughout Florida. It may extend into southern Georgia, westward to Texas and Mexico, and occurs in the West Indies. Through cultivation it occurs throughout the tropics.

Biology

The root is used medicinally.

Control

Cotton

Preemergence control is difficult to achieve. Cotoran is somewhat effective, but Direx, Staple, Dual, and Prowl/Treflan have little or no activity. Therefore, postemergence control is particularly important and timing is critical. Glyphosate will control most morningglory species when small, but control with glyphosate decreases dramatically after the plant develops 4 leaves. Early application with glyphosate is critical. Staple and Envoke are also effective, but control is often less than 90% with these herbicides. The most effective over-the-top application is glyphosate plus Staple.

Several post-directed herbicides will effectively control this species. MSMA in combination with Caparol, Direx, Valor, or Suprend are highly effective. However, the most effective treatments are glyphosate plus Valor or Aim.

Also highly effective, but seldom used, is Ignite. Ignite can only be used on Liberty-Link cotton, but can be applied over-the-top throughout the season.

Peanut

Scarlet morningglory control with preemergence herbicides is difficult. Only Pursuit will consistently provide >80% control. Strongarm and Valor both have preemergence activity, but control is often inconsistent and less than 80%. The postemergence herbicides with the greatest levels of activity are Pursuit, Cadre, Cobra and Ultra Blazer. Each of these herbicides are effective on and will often provide 85 to 90% control of 2 to 4-leaf morningglory. However, 6-leaf morningglory is more difficult to control and after 6-leaf only suppression (not control) can be expected. For large morningglory, Ultra Blazer is the only herbicide option that can be expected to provide acceptable levels of suppression/control.

Footnotes

1.

This document is an excerpt from Weeds in Florida, SP 37, a publication of the Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: May 1991. Revised: February 2006. Reviewed: November 2006. Please visit the EDIS Website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

David W. Hall, former extension botanist, Herbarium, Florida Museum of Natural History; Vernon V. Vandiver, associate professor emeritus, Agronomy Department; Jason A. Ferrell, assistant professor, Agronomy Department; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication does not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.