Fauna
Plant

Water Morning Glory

Ipomoea aquatica

Also known as Water Spinach, Kangkung, Swamp Cabbage, River Spinach

Water morning glory spreads across warm freshwater shallows on buoyant, hollow stems that root profusely at every node. Funnel-shaped blossoms open from pale lavender to white with rich purple throats, blooming early in the day to attract wetland pollinators. While widely cultivated as a staple vegetable across tropical Asia, its vigorous sprawling mats can rapidly clog slow-moving waterways and irrigation canals elsewhere.

AquaticFloweringCreeping
Water Morning Glory reference1 / 7
(c) Greg III Espera, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Golden apple snail
  • Grass carp
  • Flea beetle
ThreatsHerbicidal runoff, water pollution, and mechanical eradication in non-native canals
HabitatsPonds, canals, sluggish streams, freshwater marshes, and flooded fields
Life spanPerennial (grown as an annual in temperate zones)
Classification
  1. FamilyConvolvulaceae
  2. SpeciesIpomoea aquatica
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Growth Habit: Look for sprawling, hollow runners floating directly atop calm water margins.
  • Flower Viewing: Examine the pale purple blossoms during morning hours before they wilt in midday heat.
Related species
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