[Convolvulus indicus J. Burm.; Ipomoea acuminata (Vahl) Roem. & Schult.; I. congest a R. Br.; /. insu- laris (Choisy) Steud.; Merremia hederacea sensu Hawaiian botanists, non (N. L. Burm.) H. Hallier; Pharbitis insularis Choisy; P. i. f. glabella Wawra (?)] (ind) Koali ‘awa, koali ‘awahia, koali la‘au (Niihau), koalipehu Vines; stems twining, herbaceous to somewhat woody near base, often more than 5 m long, many-branched, appressed pubescent to glabrate. Leaf blades membranous, broadly ovate, 5-9 cm long, densely pubescent, especially on lower surface, or glabrate or completely glabrous, 3- lobed or entire, apex acuminate to obtuse, base cordate, petioles about as long as blades. Flowers 1 to few in cymes, these usually silky white pubescent, pedicels ca. 10mm long; sepals herbaceous, lanceolate to ovate, 14-23 mm long, appressed pubescent to glabrate, apex long-acuminate to acuminate; corolla blue or purple, rarely white, funnelform, 5-7 cm long, the limb 8 cm in diameter. Capsules brown, often 4-angled, globose or somewhat flattened apically, up to 1 cm in diameter, glabrous. Seeds (1 —)4, tan to dark brown, rounded, 4-5 mm long, glabrous. [2n = 30.] Pantropical; in Hawai‘i common in low elevation, dry, often disturbed areas, usually below 150(—1,250) m, on Kure Atoll, Midway Atoll, Lisianski, Laysan, Nihoa, and all of the main islands.—Plate 72. A white-flowered form occurs on Lisianski, Kauai, 0‘ahu, and Maui; intermediate flower colors usually occur where the white-flowered form is found. There are also white-flowered forms of Ipomoea indica from Asia and southern Florida. Presumably these all represent simple recessive genetic mutants. Hawaiians used roots and leaves of this plant in plasters and poultices for wounds, sores, and in treating broken bones; the seeds and other plant parts were used as a cathartic.