Ipomoea purga

 ( Purga ) 

Ipomoea purga is a species of flowering plant in the genus Ipomoea. It is commonly referred to as jalap and is probably also the source of the John the Conqueror amulet legend.

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Description Ipomoea purga is described as a vine that can reach heights of . When fresh, the root is black externally, white and milky within, and varies in size according to its age. It has heart shaped leaves and purple trumpet like flowers. Ipomoea purga is rather difficult to break down, but if triturated with cream of tartar, sugar of milk, or other hard salts, the process of pulverization is much easier, and the powder rendered much finer. When in powder form in order to ingest, the color is a pale grayish brown. Ipomoea purga is native to Mexico and it is naturalized in other parts of the neotropics.

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Discovery Ipomoea purga was encountered by Spanish conquistadores during the conquest of Mexico. It was introduced to Europe in 1565 as a medical herb used to treat an array of illnesses up until the 19th century when modern medical practices became the norm.

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Medical uses Called "mechoacán" and "mechoacan potato" by English explorers, the root contains a resin known as jalap, which is a powerful cathartic that causes intense vomiting and diarrhea that in rare cases proves fatal. When applied to a wound, it is said to induce purgation.

Ipomoea purga resin can be dissolved in either ethanol as a tincture or diethyl ether. The resin that is insoluble in ether is odorless while the resin soluble in alcohol does have an odor and is typically a brownish color. A substance with the chemical formula C₂₈H₅₂O₁₄ that is produced in Ipomoea purga roots can be broken apart into a sugar molecule (C₆H₁₂O₆) and convolvulinolic acid (C₁₆H₃₀O₃).

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Synonyms

Basionym

• Convolvulus purga

Homotypic

• Exogonium purga

Heterotypic

• Convolvulus officinalis
• Ipomœa jalapa
• Ipomœa jalapa
• Ipomoea Schiedeana Zuccar

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Bibliography

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Notes

• (1996). 9780789410672, DK Pub.. . ISBN 9780789410672
  ; ; .

• (reflowable ebook); (hardcover); ; (reflowable ebook); .

• Retrieved July 2, 2024. .

• Retrieved December 24, 2017.

• Retrieved December 2, 2013. (1898 ed.); .

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• (Online)
  The name "Ipomoea jalapa" as used by Nuttall and Cox is considered illegitimate ( nomen illegitimum = illegitimate name) because the valid publication of the name was made by Frederick Traugott Pursh in Curtis's Botanical Magazine → Plate 1572 → published by Samuel Curtis, Walworth. August 1, 1813. Initially, subsequent usage that did not follow the American Code of Botanical Nomenclature (compare → International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants) was not accepted. However, according to later formulated American Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the 1813 publication did not constitute publication of the name in a technical sense.

• Retrieved July 5, 2024. (journal); (journal); (journal); (article).

• ; .

• Retrieved July 2, 2024. ; .

• Retrieved July 2, 2024. .
  Re:

1. Karl Theodor Hartweg (1812–1871)
2. Robert Graham (1786–1845)

• ; ; .

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