Palmate Morning Glory
Ipomoea mauritiana

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A strong climbing plant. Its stems twine around objects or creep over the ground. It grows 4.5 m high and spreads 1.8 m wide. They grow from a root tuber. Plants die down each year and re-grow from the tuber. The young growth is bright green and shiny. The leaves can be 25 cm across and divided like fingers on a hand into 5-9 narrow lobes. These can be 15 cm long by 4 cm wide. Leaves are dark green and are thin in texture. The leaflets are drawn out to a point. Flowers occur in groups of 3-9 in the axils of leaves. Flowers are 6-8 cm across and mauve. They have a darker centre in the trumpet shaped flowers. The seed capsule is 1.5 cm across and round and leathery. The seeds are woolly. The tuber is large. It can occur under ground or near the surface.

There are about 500 Ipomoea species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant growing in rainforest and coastal shrub. It suits humid locations. It grows throughout the tropics. Plants need a well drained soil and a sunny position. They can only tolerate light frosts. In Africa it grows between 20-2,440 m above sea level. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, China, East Africa, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kosrae, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Starch is extracted from the roots. The tuber is eaten as a vegetable.

Not a significant food plant.

Edible parts

Tubers, root, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bhui khola, Canhano, Enhano, Large forest ipomoea, Natal cotton plant, Nhambi-di-mato, Qi zhao long

Synonyms

Batatas paniculata (L.) Choisy; Convolvulus paniculatus L.; Ipomoea paniculata (L.) R. Br.;