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Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R.Br.

Family Name:	Convolvulaceae
Synonyms:	Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis, Ipomoea biloba
Common Name:	Beach Morning Glory, Railroad Vine, Sea Morning Glory, Tapak Kuda, Goat's Foot, Attukkal, 马鞍藤, 厚藤

Full Sun

Little Water

Lots of Water

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Fruit or Vegetable

Coastal Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Drought Tolerant

Creeper

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Creeper
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular

Native Distribution	Pantropical; Somaliland, Tropical Asia, Sumatra, Malaysia, and Singapore
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Coastal Forest, Disturbed Area / Open Ground), Shoreline (Sandy Beach)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC))

Growth Form	It is a latex-bearing, trailing creeper, with up to 30 m-long stems, and deep tap roots.
Foliage	Its long-stalked leaves have thick, fleshy leaf blades that are variable in shape, about 2.5–10 cm long and wide, each with a notched tip.
Flowers	Its stalked flowers are found 1–3 together from the leaf axils, and resemble those of the morning glory (Ipomoea cairica). Its flowers have pink, reddish-purple or violet petals that are joined into to a funnel-shaped structure.

Fruit	Its 4-seeded fruits are round, about 1.3 cm-wide capsules. Its black seeds are densely covered with brown hair, and 6–10 mm long. The seeds can float and are dispersed by the ocean currents.
Habitat	It grows on sandy shores, or adjacent to the granite walls of reclaimed sites, up to 600 m altitude. It occurs locally in the vicinity of Sungei Pang Sua, Changi Road, Pulau Ubin, and Pulau Tekong. It is commonly cultivated along sea walls, and reservoir embankments.
Cultivation	It is propagated by seed or stem cuttings.
Etymology	Greek ips, worm; Greek bomoios, similar to, meaning similar to a worm; Latin pes-caprae, foot of goat, referring to the shape of the species’ leaf blade that resembles the footprint of a goat.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Fruit & Vegetable) Medicinal: The juice squeezed from the plant is used in Malaysia to treat fish stings. The leaves are used in Indonesia to hasten the bursting of boils; sap from the young leaves are boiled in coconut oil and used to treat sores and ulcers; and the seeds, chewed with areca nut, sooth abdominal pains and cramps. In Philippines, the boiled leaves are used to treat rheumatism.

Landscaping	It is cultivated along windswept beaches as its deep tap-roots have the ability to bind sand. It also has attractive foliage and flowers, so grown as an ornamental creeper in coastal and inland sites on the the granite revetments of seawalls, reservoirs and canals. It seems to fizzle out after fruiting, so must be rejuvenated with regular pruning.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	Coastal, General, Parks & Gardens, Beachfront / Shoreline, Groundcover

Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Water, Explosive Dehiscence)

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Lots of Water, Moderate Water, Little Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast

Rootzone Tolerance	Dry Soils / Drought, Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot)

Individual Flower Shape

Trumpet-shaped

Fruit Type

Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule

Images

Master ID	135
Species ID	1431
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.