Trees & Plants

Water-spinach

Kankoon

Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.

Common in marshy areas NARAHDISAS .N/OAF Leaves are used as delicious vegetable. Fresh leaves and stems are rich in iron and used as a laxative to get relief from gastric disorders. The plant is anthelmintic, carminative and anti-inflammatory. The whole plant is useful in fever,

Details

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uses: Leaves are used as delicious vegetable. Fresh leaves and stems are rich in iron and used as a laxative to get relief from gastric disorders. The plant is anthelmintic, carminative and anti-inflammatory. The whole plant is useful in fever, jaundice, bronchitis, piles and liver complaints. Th reat & damage: The plant is highly invasive. It can form dense mats over the in surface of water bodies displacing native plants and threatening aquatic biodiversity. Dense canopies formed by it over ponds and retention basins create stagnant water conditions favouring breeding by mosquitos. The plant also occupies muddy banks along streams. Eradication is a challenge since aquatic hebicides cannot be used in all invaded areas. 4, c in
family: Convolvulaceae
synonym: Ipomoea reptans Poir, Ipomoea repens Roth
description: Creeping or floating aquatic Th herbs, stems hollow, rooting at the nodes. × Leaves alternate, 5-10 2-6 cm, varies in form, usually oblong-lanceate or narrowly triangular, base hastate, apex acute; petiole 6-10 cm long. Flowers purplish-white, solitary or few in cymes. Sepals subequal, 6-8 mm long, oblong-lanceolate, membranous, glabrous. Corolla funnel-shaped, ca. 5 cm long, pale purple to nearly white, tube to 2 cm long, lobes obscure. Stamens included, filaments unequal, hairy at the base. Ovary glabrous. Capsule globose; seeds 2 or 4, minutely pubescent.
native range: Tropical Africa and Asia
distribution: Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Islands, South America
english names: Water-spinach · Water morning glory
flowering fruiting: November- March
occurrence maldives: Common in marshy areas NARAHDISAS .N/OAF