Weir vine
Ipomoea polpha
Family: Convolvulaceae
What it is like
A creeping vine or shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are larger and softer than Ipomoea costata and more pointed at the end. The stems are weak and trailing and spread along the ground for 4 m. They are branched. The leaves are 5-18 cm long by 3-9 cm wide. They are oval or heart shaped. The leaf stalks are 5-10 cm long. One to five flowers occur together. Flowers are 7-10 cm across and a bright pink with dark bands. The fruit capsule is 1-1.5 cm across. There are 4 seeds which do not have many hairs. The tubers are large and rounded. Tubers can be 2.5 m from the base of the plant and 40 cm below the surface.
There are about 500 Ipomoea species.
Where it is found
It is a tropical or subtropical plant. It can tolerate drought. Plants can tolerate fire. It requires an open sunny position and a well drained soil. It can tolerate light frosts. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The tubers are eaten cooked.
Edible parts
Tuber, root
How it is grown
It can be grown from seed, cuttings or tubers.
An average tuber weighs about 1 kg. They can be larger.