Morning glory

 


As their name suggests, morning glory flowers open with the sunrise in the early morning and close by midday or afternoon. 

This happens due to changes in light and temperature, a phenomenon known as nyctinasty. Nyctinastic movements are regulated by changes in turgor pressure (water pressure within plant cells) in specialized structures called pulvini (swollen cells at the base of leaves or flower stalks).

Morning glory creepers (Ipomoea species) produce stunning, trumpet-like flowers in colors such as purple, blue, pink, red, and white.

Some species, like Ipomoea tricolor and Ipomoea purpurea, display a striking color gradient or star-like patterns in the center

Morning glories attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making them beneficial for pollinators - so for a lark, I painted a random blue butterfly on the stalk.

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