Ipomoea carnea aka Morning Glory

Ipomoea carnea, also known as the pink morning glory or bush morning glory, is a species of morning glory that grows as a bush. This flowering plant has heart-shaped leaves that are a rich green and 6–9 inches (15–23 cm) long. It can be easily grown from seeds, but caution should be taken as the seeds are toxic and can be hazardous to cattle. The toxicity is related to the swainsonine produced by its endophytes, and to bioaccumulation of selenium in the leaves but mostly in the seeds. However, the stem of I. carnea can be used for making paper. In addition to its practical uses, I. carnea also has medicinal properties. It contains a component identical to marsilin, a sedative and anticonvulsant. A glycosidic saponin has also been purified from I. carnea with anticarcinogenic and oxytoxic properties. In temperate North America, the term "bush morning glory" usually refers to I. leptophylla, but in Brazil, I. carnea is known as canudo-de-pito, which translates to "pipe-cane". This is because the hollow stems of I. carnea were used to make tubes for tobacco pipes. The plant thus became the namesake of Canudos, a religious community in the sertão of Bahia, over which the War of Canudos was fought 1893–1897. As a houseplant, the rare Bush Morning Glory needs regular watering and thrives in long-lasting, direct light less than 1 foot from a window. It prefers soil that is well-draining and may benefit from a gentle, organic fertilizer throughout the peak growing season.