Yellow ipomoea
Ipomoea obscura

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A climbing herb. It is a slender trailing plant. It lies along the ground. It can be a climber or twining. It has a taproot and can keep growing from year to year. The leaf stalks are 1.5 cm long. The leaf blades vary but are long and tapering to the tip with a broadly heart shape base. They are 4 cm long. The flowers occur singly or as a few together in the axils of leaves. The flowers are funnel shaped and 4 cm long and 3 cm across. They are pale yellow or white.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the savannah in West Africa. It grows from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level. It grows in woodland, grassland and savannah. It can grow in arid places. It can grow in coastal sands. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central Africa, Chad, China, Congo, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Fiji, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Guinea, Nigeria, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten as a relish. The leaves are added to soup.

A minor vegetable of only local importance.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable, root, tuber

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Babi, Chikoakoa, Eyeripopo, Ijalambu, Muduhwi, Mundalendale, Musonya, Muwira, Thaalhafilima, Umdzandzabuka, Wild petunia

Synonyms

Convolvulus obscurus L.; Convolvulus ochraceus Lindl.; Convolvulus pilosus R. Br.; Convolvulus trichocalyx Schumach. & Thonn.; Ipomoea demissa Hallier f.; Ipomoea fragilis Choisy; Ipomoea insuavis Blume; Ipomoea kentrocarpa Hochst. ex A. Rich.; Ipomoea obscura var. fragilis (Choisy) A. Meeuse; Ipomoea acanthocarpa (Choisy) Ascherson & Schweinf.; Possibly not synonym. Ipomoea ochracea (Lindl.) G. Don; Ipomoea trichocalyx Schum. & Thonn.;