Ipomoea pandurata

Ipomoea pandurata
Ipomoea pandurata
Ipomoea pandurata in bloom
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Ipomoea
Species: I. pandurata
Binomial name
Ipomoea pandurata
(L.) G.F.W.Mey.

Ipomoea pandurata the Wild Potato Vine, Big-rooted Morning Glory or Man-of-the-Earth is a species of herbaceous perennial vine. Another common name is "manroot", but that typically refers to the quite unrelated gourd genus Marah.

It is rarely cultivated but grows wild in North America appearing along roadsides, in fields and along fence rows. It sustains itself over the winter with a tuberous root similar to its better known relative, the Sweet Potato (I. batatas).

Contents

Identification

The plant is a "trailing vine" with "singly attached heart shaped leaves" and white bell shaped flowers,(2-4 inches, or 5-10 centimeters in size) which have pink to purple centers. The root is "large, vertical, [and] deeply buried"

Uses

The tuber can be baked or boiled like a potato. The taste can be described as a sweet potato that is somewhat bitter. Caution should be taken as some roots have more of a bitter taste than others and ought to be boiled in "several changes of water."

Warning

The roots when left uncooked have purgative properties[1].

References

  1. ^ Peterson, Lee, "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America", p. 20, Houghton Mifflin Company, New York City, accessed 22 November, 2010. ISBN 0 395 20445 3

Media related to Ipomoea pandurata at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Ipomoea pandurata at Wikispecies


Stub icon This Solanales article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.