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The Whitestar (Ipomoea lacunosa) belongs to Convolvulaceae (the Morning glory family). It is an annual herb that is native to the central and eastern United States. It is thought to have arrived in Japan between the 1940s and 1950s at the latest, mixed in with imported grains. Today, it is commonly found in areas west of the Kanto region of Honshu. It grows in grasslands, fields, roadsides, etc. It is a vine that grows several meters long, wrapping around other plants. The leaves are 5 to 10 cm long, ovate to long ovate, and vary widely. The corolla is usually white, but rarely light red. The light red variety is called "Ipomoea lacunosa f. purpurata". The peduncle has ribs and is densely covered with wart-like projections. The fruit is a flattened spherical capsule with four seeds.
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