Ipomoea eriocarpa

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A perennial shrub. It has slender trailing stems. These re-grow each year from a woody rootstock. The young growth has rigid hairs which bend backwards. The leaves are narrow and sword shaped. They are 4-10 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are bright green on top and hairy underneath. The flowers are about 2 cm across. They are white or pale pink with a darker centre. They occur singly in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a capsule about 1 cm across which is round and hairy. The seeds are smooth.

There are about 500 Ipomoea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs naturally in woodland. They require a sunny position. They need a well drained soil. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,530 m above sea level. In Nepal between 610-760 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central Asia, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Africa, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves and stems are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The are usually first wilted in the sun. The seeds are eaten. The tubers are roasted and eaten.

It is occasionally cultivated as a vegetable. It has low palatability. The leaves are commonly eaten in some places.

Edible parts

Leaves, tubers, roots, seeds, vegetable, stem

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. They can probably also be grown from cuttings.

The leaves are cultivated during the rainy season. The whole plant is pulled up and the leaves harvested later.

Its other names

Local names

Acatolao, Acatominoula, Bhanwar, Boota, Bounsso, Buta, Dowolowo, Ecadokoko, Ecejofo, Eriono, Gheabato, Ghiabato, Kalman, Kholowa thengo, Lilowolowo, Mao guo shu, Mulli balli, Mushakani, Nakhari, Nyamara-dundu, Padowiakuri, Paninoi, Podowia kuri, Pulichevidu, Pundi, Purititige, Tam-cumba, Tride

Synonyms

Convolvulus hispidus Vahl; Ipomoea hispida (Vahl) Roem. & Schult., nom. illeg.; Convolvulus eriocarpus (R. Brown) Sprengel; Convolvulus hispidus Vahl; Convolvulus sessiliflorus (Roth) Sprengel; Ipomoea hispida (Vahl) Roemer & Schultes; Ipomoea horsefieldiana Blume; Ipomoea sessiliflora Roth.;