Ipomoea aquatica
Chinese Water Spinach, Kalmi
Other regional names: River Spinach +4 more
- River Spinach
- Swamp Morning Glory
- Water Convolvulus
- Water Morning Glory
- Water Spinach
Also known as: Convolvulus adansonii Desr. +13 more
- Convolvulus adansonii Desr.
- Convolvulus argyi H.Lév.
- Convolvulus clappertonii Spreng.
- Convolvulus rostratus Zipp. ex Span.
- Ipomoea aquatica var. heterophylla (Hallier fil.) Rendle
- Ipomoea clappertonii R.Br.
- Ipomoea glenieii Thwaites ex C.B.Clarke
- Ipomoea natans Dinter & Suess.
- Ipomoea repens f. deltoidea Roberty
- Ipomoea repens f. suffrutescens Roberty
- Ipomoea reptans Roem. & Schult.
- Ipomoea reptans var. heterophylla Hallier fil.
- Ipomoea sagittifolia Hochr.
- Ipomoea sagittiformis Cordem.
Botanical Data
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Botanical Family: Convolvulaceae
- WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a climbing helophyte.
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Ipomoea aquatica (commonly known as Chinese water-spinach or Kalmi) is a climbing plant belonging to the Convolvulaceae family. Found natively in Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, and the Pacific, this species is primarily associated with seasonally dry tropical conditions. It is part of the broad Ipomoea genus, encompassing over 600 species globally. There are naturally occurring varieties of this species, which are linked below.
Macro Climate
Tropical
Plant Type
Climber / Vine
Plant Type
Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Type
Aquatic Plant
Native Range
Continents (WGSRPD)
AFRICA, ASIA-TEMPERATE, ASIA-TROPICAL, AUSTRALASIA, PACIFIC
Regions (WGSRPD)
Arabian Peninsula, Australia, China, East Tropical Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Indo-China, Malesia, Northeast Tropical Africa, Northwestern Pacific, Papuasia, South Tropical Africa, Southern Africa, Southwestern Pacific, West Tropical Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Western Indian Ocean
Botanical Countries (WGSRPD L3)
Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caprivi Strip, Caroline Is., Central African Republic, Chad, China South-Central, China Southeast, Comoros, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, The, Ghana, Gilbert Is., Guinea, Gulf States, India, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Marianas, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Northern Territory, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Queensland, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Yemen, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe
Introduced Range
Plants flagged as 'Introduced' have been transported outside their native historical range by human activity. While many are common ornamentals, some may become naturalized or invasive in local environments. Local ecological guidelines require verification prior to planting.
Botanical Countries (Non-Native)
Aruba, Belize, Brazil North, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Burkina, California, Christmas I., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Florida, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mauritius, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Southeast, Mississippi, Nauru, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Samoa, Seychelles, Society Is., Solomon Is., South China Sea, Surinam, Trinidad-Tobago, Wallis-Futuna Is.
Subspecies, Varieties & Forms