Mile-a-minute, Coast Morning Glory
Ipomoea cairica

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

An annual climbing herb. It climbs to 5 m high. The stems are slender and branching. It keeps growing from year to year from a large tuberous rootstock. The stems can be twining or growing along the ground. These can be 1.8 m long. The leaves are green with lobes divided like fingers on a hand. The leaves are 5-12 cm across and there are 5-7 lobes. These are separate and only slightly united at the base. The leaflets are 3-6 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They are on a stalk 2-6 cm long. Often the lowest lobe has a side lobe. The leafy structures (stipules) at the base of the leaf are also divided like fingers on a hand. The flowers are funnel shaped and purple to red and white. They have a purple centre. They are 5-6 cm long. Flowers can either be single or up to 5 on a stalk. The fruit is a round capsule. It is 1.2 cm wide. It is papery brown. There are several small black hairy seeds.

There are about 500 Ipomoea species. It can become a weed in warm temperate places.

Where it is found

It grows in tropical and warm temperate places. It will grow on most well drained soils. It can grow on the edges of mangroves. It has moderate salt tolerance. It grows in woodland between 230-1,600 m above sea level in Africa. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mediterranean, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Guinea, Norfolk Island, North Africa, Pacific, Pakistan, Pan tropical, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The tubers can be used as food. They must be cooked. They are bitter. Starch is extracted from them. CAUTION: They may be slightly cancer causing The leaves are collected and wilted in the sun then cooked either alone or with other vegetables.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots, tubers, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. It can be grown using cuttings.

Leaves are collected during the rainy season. Dried leaves can be stored for several months.

Its other names

Local names

Bejuco, Bint al-basha, Campanilla, Foroko farakable, Ka oli, Kiazi pori, Llando-ipolu, Lunsyonsyo, Matembele pori, Messina creeper, Muze, Nyakapulikilo, Suspiros, Wu zhao jin long

Synonyms

Convolvulus cairicus L.; Convolvulus tuberculatus Desr.; Ipomoea palmata Forsk.; Ipomoea pendula R. Br.; Ipomoea stipulacea Jacq.; Ipomoea tuberculata (Desr.) Roem. & Schult.; and others