Common name: Wild Potato Vine, Man Of The Earth
Botanical name: Ipomoea pandurata Family: Convolvulaceae (morning glory family)
This is a morning glory vine with large white
trumpet shaped flowers (up to three inches long and about as wide) with a
reddish-purple throat. Arising from a deep vertical root, this
perennial vine with alternate leaves, entwines itself over other vegetation.
The leaf-blades are heart-shaped, occasionally fiddle-shaped
(pandurate), three to six inches long. The sepals are ridged, which
distinguishes it from other morning-glories.
Another distinguishing characteristic is its root. Sometimes called
Man-of-the-Earth, this morning-glory has an enlarged starchy root that can be
several feet long and weigh up to thirty pounds. It is said that American
Indians roasted pieces of the root for food--but be wary about trying that,
because the fresh root is a purgative.
Wild Potato Vine is widely distributed and blooms from May through September.
It is a host for the sweet potato weevil, and can be a troublesome weed.
| Photographed in Lodhi Garden,
Delhi. |
Identification credit: R.K. Nimai Singh
|
ntroduced