Water Spinach   (Ipomoea aquatica) 

DESCRIPTION

Water spinach is an herbaceous trailing vine that dwells in muddy stream banks, freshwater ponds, and marshes. This perennial aquatic vine is confined to the tropics and subtropics zones because it is susceptible to frosts and does not grow well when temperatures are below 23.9 C. Water spinach can reproduce sexually by producing one to four seeds in fruiting capsules or vegetatively by stem fragmentation. It is a member of the "morning-glory" family. Flowers: Funnel shaped, solitary or in few flowered clusters at leaf axils, two inches wide, pink to white in color, and darker in the throat (rarely nearly white). Leaves: Arrowhead shaped, alternate, one to six inches long, and one to three inches wide Stems: Vine like, trailing, with milky sap and roots at the nodes; usually to 9 ft. long but can be much longer.  Fruit: An oval or spherical capsule, woody at maturity, 1 cm long, holding 1 to 4 grayish seeds.

Photo Credit: University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

(Source: 1. McCann, Arkin, Williams Book Chapter 3 Section 1: University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/mcplnt1r.html; 2. Water spinach, Noxious weeds (Weed Science Society of America), http://www.wssa.net/subpages/weed/ws.htm; 3. Pacific Island Ecosystem at Risk (PIER),  http://www.hear.org/pier/ipaqu.htm; 4. Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants - Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plant Particulars and Photos, http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/ipaqpic.html)

IMPACTS

Water spinach Water spinach populations have caused environmental damage by creating impenetrable masses of tangled vegetation obstructing  water flow in drainage and flood control canals. They have infested lakes, ponds, and river shorelines,  displacing native plants that are important for fish and wildlife. The veins of the plant create dense impenetrable canopies over small ponds and retention basins creating stagnant water conditions that are ideal breeding environments for mosquitoes. 

(Source: 1. Water spinach, Noxious weeds (Weed Science Society of America), http://www.wssa.net/subpages/weed/ws.htm; 2. Water spinach,  University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/ipoaqu.pdf; 3. Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants - Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plant Particulars and Photos, http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/ipaqpic.html)

(Source: 1. Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas, http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/pistpic.html; 2. Non-Native Invasive Aquatic Plants in the United States, http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/seagrant/pisstr2.html; 3. Courtesy of Nonindigenous Aquatic and Semi-Aquatic Plants in Freshwater Systems, http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/mcplnt1c.html)

(Source: 1. McCann, Arkin, Williams Book Chapter 3 Section 1: University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/mcplnt1r.html; 2. Water spinach, Noxious weeds (Weed Science Society of America), http://www.wssa.net/subpages/weed/ws.htm; 3. *Schardt, J. D., and D. C. Schmitz. 1990. 1990 Florida aquatic plant survey report. Unpublished report, Florida Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee. 89 pp).

Nonindigenous Aquatic and Selected Terrestrial Species of Florida (Published on the Internet by McCann, Arkin, Williams): University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
    http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/mcplnt1r.html
This on-line book includes a brief description about water spinach at the chapter 3. Nonindigenous Aquatic and Semi-Aquatic Plants in Freshwater Systems

Ipomoea aquatica: Pacific Island Ecosystem at Risk (PIER) 
    http://www.hear.org/pier/ipaqu.htm
This site provides brief information: Common name, description, habitat, range, distribution, and references.

Flower Recipes - Recipes with Aquatic Plants
    http://www.valentine.gr/recipes_aquatic4_en.htm
This site includes recipes with water spinach.

McCann Book Chapter 3 Section 1 Ipomoea
    http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/mcplnt1r.html

Water spinach: Noxious Weeds, Weed Science Society of America
    http://www.wssa.net/subpages/weed/ws.htm    

Water spinach, Weed Alert: Florida Department of Environmental Protection 
    http://www.dep.state.fl.us/lands/invaspec/3rdlevpgs/Wtrspnch.pdf 
This pdf-formatted fact sheet includes a brief introduction, environmental concerns, biological description, and distribution.

Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database
    http://rimmo.mur.csu.edu.au/Plantnames/Sorting/Ipomoea.html
This site provides more than 15 multilingual water spinach names.