Zambezi morning-glory
Ipomoea shirambensis
Family: Convolvulaceae
What it is like
A woody climber. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 3 m tall. The leaves appear after flowering. The leaves are in groups on new shoots. They are heart shaped and 8 cm long by 5 cm wide. The flowers are in dense clusters om older shoots. The flowers are trumpet shaped and white with a reddish centre. The fruit is an oval capsule.
There are about 500 Ipomoea species.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry open woodland. It grows in sandy soils between 30-1,400 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The root is eaten as a vegetable.
It is a famine food.
Edible parts
Tubers, root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Idididi, Mucincizya, Quirmba-tchirambaca