Wild Morning Glory

This is Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba Dennst. also known as Purple Bindweed, Sharp-pod Morning Glory, or Tie Vine. 

Ipomoea is from the Greek “ips” and “homois”, meaning “like a worm”… I assume this has to do with the fact that it is a twining vine. Cordatotriloba is an indication of heart-shaped, three-lobed leaves. 

This perennial vine is a member of the morning glory (Convolvulaceae) family and blooms every month of the year except January & February. It has two kinds of leaves: one divided into three sections & the other undivided. The trailing stems grow to 15-ft or more. As is characteristic of most morning glories, their blooms open up in the morning. As the day wears on their color fades and the blooms close up in the afternoon heat.

You'll find this growing wild all across Texas (except the Panhandle & far west) but it is considered a pest in flower beds and gardens due to its prolific self-seeding.  It is an aggressive & rampant growing vine that will (literally) choke the life out of other plants. Here at the ranch it grows most notably along the pasture fence. 

White-tail deer don't like the blooms but they may eat the leaves. Attractive to pollinators including ladybugs, butterflies, hummingbirds and bees. I couldn't find any medicinal or cultural uses for this particular plant... maybe due to the fact that it is quite toxic to humans. So, don't eat it!

(Thanks to Coyne for help on the ID)