Morning Glory

Ipomoea is the largest genus in the plant family Convolvulaceae, with more than six hundred species across the tropics and subtropics. Most are twining climbers, though the genus also holds annual and perennial herbs, shrubs and small trees, and its name, built from Greek words for a woodworm and for resembling, refers to that twining habit. The flowers may be blue, red, pink, purple, white, orange or yellow. Morning glory is the commonest name, but the genus also takes in the sweet potato, water spinach and the moonflowers. The common morning glory has heart-shaped leaves and purple trumpet flowers that open in the morning and close at night or in rain. Aztec and Zapotec priests took the seeds of Mexican morning glory in divination rituals, and Kynes adds that the Aztecs used the plant to commune with their gods; the seeds of some species contain lysergamides such as ergine. English lore held that witches used morning glories in their spells. In magical practice the seeds are laid under the pillow against nightmares, blue morning glories grown in the garden are said to bring peace and happiness, a length of the vine serves in binding spells, and a vine hung over the bed aids dream work.