Ipomoea turbinata

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It is twining. It has milky sap. The stems are 2-10 m long. The leaf blade is heart shaped and 7-18 cm long by 7-15 cm wide. The flowers come out at night. The flower stalk is 3-6 cm long. The fruit is an oval capsule 2 cm across. The seeds are black and 3 sided.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in thickets and on flood plains between 600-1,200 m altitude. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, China, East Africa, Gambia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kashmir, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young seeds, fruit and thickened fruit stalks are eaten as a vegetable. They are cooked and eaten. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit, fruit stalks, vegetable, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ding xiang qie, Kantel phool, Nithya vazhuthana, Phang

Synonyms

Calonyction longiflorum Hasskarl; Calonyction muricatum (L.) G. Don; Convolvulus muricatus L.; Ipomoea bonanox L. var. purpurascens Ker Gawler; Ipomoea muricata (L.) Jacq.;