Hairy merremia, Hairy woodrose
Merremia aegyptia

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A scrambling herb. It can be a climber. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves have five leaflets. These are 3-9 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are white. The mature fruit is very hairy. It is a capsule with 4 sections and is 11 mm across.

There are about 70 Merremia species. It is considered a serious weed in Australia.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in disturbed areas and water drains. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are dried and then roasted and ground to make a coffee like drink.

Edible parts

Seeds - coffee

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ghiabel

Synonyms

Ipomoea aegyptia L.; Ipomoea pentaphylla Jacq.;