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Moonflower

Dok chomchan | ดอกชมจันทร์ | Ipomoea alba

Family: Convolvulaceae - Genus: Ipomoea

The moonflowers are grown around the bio gas installation and in the vegetable garden of the Thai Child Development Foundation.

 

Ipomoea alba, sometimes called the tropical white morning-glory or moonflower or moon vine, is a species of night-blooming morning glory.


Moonflower is a tender perennial vine with powerful fragrance at night. Grown as annuals, this plant has large, beautiful, heart-shaped leaves growing on big vines, supported by a trellis. The iridescent white, trumpet-shaped flowers are around 15 centimeter long and 7 - 15 centimeter wide. The flowers open from cone-shaped buds as the sun goes down and on some cloudy days.

The name moonflower derives from their blooming in the evening and their being round in shape like a full moon.


The moonflower grows (and regrows) and blooms the whole year through, although it has less flower buds in the rainy season.


 

The papaya is a small, sparsely branched tree, usually with a single stem growing from 5 to 10 meter tall, with spirally arranged leaves confined to the top of the trunk. The lower trunk is usually scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. All parts of the plant contain latex.
Vine

THE VINE

Moonflower is a perennial, herbaceous vine growing to a height of 5–30 m tall with twining stems.





 

The leaves of the papaya are large, 50-70 cm in diameter, with seven lobes.
Leaf

THE LEAVES

The leaves are entire or three-lobed, 5–15 centimeter long, with a 5–20 centimeter long stem.


Young leaves can be eaten when cooked. Steamed and eaten as a vegetable or used in curries, soups, stews etc.




 


The flowers are five-parted; the male flowers have the stamens fused to the petals. The female flowers have a superior ovary and five contorted petals loosely connected at the base. The flowers are sweet-scented, open at night, and wind- or insect-pollinated.
FLOWER

THE FLOWERS

The flowers are fragrant, white or pink, and large, 8–14 centimeter diameter. The flowers open quickly in the evening and last through the night, remaining open until touched by the morning sun. On overcast days, the blossoms may remain open for longer. The flowers also tend to remain open longer during cool temperatures - which may also cause the segments to snag or tear as they open.



 
FLOWERBUDS

THE FLOWERBUDS

The flower buds can be eaten raw in salads or steamed and eaten as a vegetable or used in curries, soups, stews etc







 
The flowers are five-parted; the male flowers have the stamens fused to the petals. The female flowers have a superior ovary and five contorted petals loosely connected at the base. The flowers are sweet-scented, open at night, and wind- or insect-pollinated.
SEEDS

THE SEEDS

The seeds of the moonflower can be eaten when young.








 

CULINARY USES

The young leaves and fleshy calyces are edible when cooked. They can be boiled or steamed. They can also be dried for later use. Seeds edible when young.


Click on the link of the Food Forest Kitchen Restaurant for recipes with edible flowers.


 

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF NEEDLE FLOWER


NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.


The whole plant is used in treating snakebites.


 

INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience

For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!


Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!


INTO THE WILD!

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