Ipomoea pes-caprae

beach morning-glory

Juice from the leaves can be used to treat jellyfish stings. This use has been supported by studies of the anti-venom activity of extracts of the plant.

The plant is prevalent on Hawaiian beaches, and surfers would whip the edge of a calm ocean with these vines to summon waves to rise. I imagine an extremely disappointed surfer sitting on the beach on a windless day waiting for waves to come. Aware but skeptical of the supposed wave-summoning power of this vine, his frustration finally boils over into a vine-flinging frenzy that ends in either fruitless exhaustion or a tsunami.

Indigenous Hawaiians used the plant in therapeutic steam baths. The long running stems of the plant were made into cordage sometimes employed in the use of fishing nets and leis. Women would eat a few leaf buds before giving birth to speed up delivery.

Any internal use of this plant is not advised, as the plant contains a number of cathartic compounds, making dosage crucial. Because of these compounds, seeds have been chewed in the Solomon Islands to treat constipation. In Indonesia, the plant is frequently used to treat inflammatory conditions because of its astringent properties. Sap from the leaves is boiled in coconut oil and then applied to sores. Brazilian folk medicine also makes use of the plant to treat gastrointestinal disorders and inflammation.

Caribbean natives used the vine in ritual baths to combat evil spells.

Beach morning-glory grows best, you guessed it, on beaches. It thrives in the full sun, blooms regularly, and is highly drought tolerant.