Silky Cowvine
Ipomoea polymorpha

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It can re-grow each year or last for a couple of years. This plant varies considerably. The stems can stick up or hang over. They do not twine. Stems are reddish. They come from a fleshy rootstock. The young growth is covered with fine white hairs. The leaves are 2-6 cm across and 0.5-2 cm wide. The leaves are oblong. The lower leaves have lobes or coarse teeth. The flowers are trumpet shaped and 1-1.5 cm across. They are pink or purple with a dark throat. The flowers occur singly in the axils of the upper leaves. Flowers only have very short flower stalks. The seed capsule is 0.5 cm across. The seeds have short hairs. There are 4 seeds in a capsule.

There are about 500 Ipomoea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in semi-arid regions as well as tropical woodlands. It needs a sunny position. It needs good drainage. It can tolerate light frosts. Grasslands, sandy seashores below 100 m in China. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Ethiopia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, New Guinea, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Root, tuber, seeds

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed or cuttings. Cuttings grow easily.

Its other names

Local names

Yu ye shu

Synonyms

Ipomoea heterophylla R.Br.; Convolvulus defloratus Choisy; Convolvulus nolaniflorus Zippe-lius ex Spanoghe; Convolvulus robertianus Sprengel; Ipomoea heterophylla R. Brown; Ipomoea pumila Spanoghe; Ipomoea tashiroi Matsumura;