ipomoea

American  

[ip-uh-mee-uh, ahy-pey-] / ˌɪp əˈmi ə, ˌaɪ peɪ- /

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Ipomoea, of the morning glory family, certain species of which are cultivated for their large, showy flowers.

2. the dried root of certain varieties of plants of this genus, yielding a resin sometimes used as a cathartic.

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ipomoea British  

/ ˌɪpəˈmɪə, ˌaɪ- /

noun

1. any tropical or subtropical convolvulaceous plant of the genus Ipomoea, such as the morning-glory, sweet potato, and jalap, having trumpet-shaped flowers

2. the dried root of a Mexican species, I. orizabensis, which yields a cathartic resin

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Etymology

Origin of ipomoea

< New Latin (Linnaeus) < Greek īp- (stem of îps ) worm + hómoia, neuter plural of hómoios like; homeo-

Example Sentences

We may all recognize a classic Heavenly Blue morning glory, but what about its distinctive cousins in the genus Ipomoea, all of them hummingbird favorites?

From Seattle Times

Mattus currently has his eye on a new-to-him selection of Ipomoea luteola, called Sunspots, in the vine-rich Select Seeds catalog, which has scaled-down, yellow-throated scarlet trumpets.

From Seattle Times

The closest wild relative is a weedy flower called Ipomoea trifida that grows around the Caribbean.

From New York Times

The sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, is one of the most valuable crops in the world, providing more nutrients per farmed acre than any other staple.

From New York Times

They identified Ipomoea trifida as the modern crop’s closest living wild relative.

From Nature