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Glite Dictionary
Ipomoea alba

Ipomoea alba

9.9
A tropical climbing plant with large white fragrant flowers that open at night
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Ipomoea alba
  • As twilight falls, the Ipomoea alba transforms the garden with its glowing blossoms.

Examples

  • Gardeners often plant Ipomoea alba on trellises to enjoy its large white flowers during summer evenings.

  • The Ipomoea alba blooms beautifully at night.

  • The fragrant blooms of the Ipomoea alba open at dusk and attract nighttime pollinators.

  • Have you seen an Ipomoea alba flower before?

  • The garden was adorned with Ipomoea alba, its large white flowers releasing a sweet fragrance at dusk.

  • At night, the Ipomoea alba opened its beautiful white blooms, illuminating the garden with their scent.

  • During the summer, the Ipomoea alba vine climbed up the trellis, showcasing its stunning night-blooming flowers.

Synonyms

moonflower
vsIpomoea alba
2 7.3

A climbing plant that makes large white flowers that open at night and smell sweet

is the formal Latin name used in scientific contexts instead of the common name
belle de nuit
vsIpomoea alba
9.9

A tropical climbing plant with white, sweet-smelling flowers that open at night

is the scientific Latin name used more widely than that regional common name

Surface Forms

Ipomoea alba singular
Ipomoea albas plural

Morphology

Ipomoea + alba

This binomial is compositionally built from the genus name 'Ipomoea' (a flowering plant) and the epithet 'alba' which denotes 'white' (Latin), so the phrase literally denotes a white Ipomoea. Because the species name transparently describes a white-flowered plant, a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Ipomoea alba may come from old words that describe the plant: Ipomoea likely meant 'worm-like' because the stems twist, and alba means 'white'. Because the vine twines like a worm and makes big white flowers that open at night, the name helps you remember this night-blooming 'moonflower'.