Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)

Family Convolvulaceae

This a creeper which is not indigenous to South Africa and comes from South America.

It has the largest flowers (8-14cm diameter), being almost four times the size of other Morning Glories.

The name comes from the fact that it only opens at night and closes with the first rays of sunlight.

The ancient Mesoamerican civilizations used the Ipomoea alba morning glory to convert the latex from the Castilla elastica tree and the guayule plant to produce bouncing rubber balls.

The sulfur in this morning glory served to vulcanize the rubber, a process predating Charles Goodyear's discovery by at least 3,000 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_alba