Obscure Morning-Glory
Ipomoea obscura (?)
Prostrate vine in an area of shallow soil and rocky pasture. Eldoret, Kenya, Africa. December 2012.
HERBACEOUS VINE: Long-lived mostly herbaceous vine with a woody crown
and lower stems. This specimen had stems twining slightly and extended a meter
or less and were partially prostrate and scrambling over some other plants and
rocks.
FLOWERS: The flowers of this specimen were pastel yellow. They suggest a
nicer common name than the ones so far published: Pastel Morning Glory. Some
variations across the wide range of this species include almost pure white and
with a purple-tinted throat. There are five united petals and the center of
each is darker yellow.
LEAVES: The leaves are rather thick, dark green, and heart-shaped
(cordate).
RANGE: I. obscure is a native plant and ranges through much of
Africa and tropical Asia. Being attractive it has also been cultivated widely
where it sometimes escapes and becomes an invasive seed.
FRUIT: The fruits are dry capsules with typically four seeds.
UNARMED.