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Ipomoea capillacea - purple morning-glory

Scientific Family
Convolvulaceae
Synonyms
Convolvulus capillaceus, Ipomoea muricata
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Ipomoea purpurea
Height
Less than 12 inches
Riparian
No

Stems arise from elongated tubers and are erect to ascending, not hairy; leaves are thread-like, highly divided into 5 divisions, some divisions are just short nubs, edges often rolled inward; flowers purple, pinkish-purple, or reddish, funnel-shaped. 

Erect to ascending slender branches; leaves divided, almost thread-like, not stemmed, bundled; flowers purple, pinkish-purple, or reddish, solitary; fruit a rounded capsule; similar to I. plummerae, but smaller leaves and shorter flower stems.

Habitat

Oak woodlands, plains, ponderosa pine.

Plant Community
Grasslands
Montane Conifer Forest
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
8200

Flower Characteristics

Flowers solitary, funnel-like on short slender branches; outer sepals with noticeable outgrowths, oblong, stamens do not protrude.

Flower color
Purple, pinkish-purple, reddish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
None

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaves in bundles, without stems, highly divided in thread-like divisions, edges of divisions often rolled inward, generally with 5 divisions, sometimes individual divisions just short nubs, to 1/2 inch long.

Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Dissected
Leaf attachment
Whorl
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Rounded.

Fruit type
Capsule

Seeds 1 to 4, 3 egg-shaped, black to dark brown with short erect hairs.