Damara creeper
Ipomoea verbascoidea

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A shrub or climber. It can lie along the ground or climb. The stems are woody. It can grow 2 m high. It has succulent roots. It usually has yellow to white woolly hairs. The leaves are heart shaped or oblong and 4-15 cm long by 3-17 cm wide. There are woolly hairs underneath and the edges are entire. The leaf stalks are 2-10 cm long. There is a gland on each side of the stalk at the base or the leaf blade. The flowers occur as 1-3 together. They are in the axils of leaves. The flowers are funnel shaped and 5-7 cm across. They are red or purple with a darker throat. The fruit is an oval capsule 20-25 mm long. The seeds are covered in long, cotton-like hairs.

There are about 500 Ipomoea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in sandy soil. It can be in woodland or scrub. It grows between 490-1,525 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Southern Africa, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The root is eaten raw. It has useful water. It is usually grated. The fruit are eaten as a snack.

Edible parts

Tubers, roots, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Engamukuiju, Litalala, Matalata, Otindwapa

Synonyms

Ipomoea assumptae Mattei; Ipomoea dammarana Rendle; Ipomoea elliotii Baker;