Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa

Photo: David Gwynne-Evans
Lower slopes Mt Mabu

Photo: Sune Holt
Munavalate, Vilanculos Distr., Inhambane, Mozambique

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Synonyms:	Convolvulus batatas L. Convolvulus edulis Thunb.
Common names:	Sweet potato (English)
Description:	Perennial herb, widely cultivated for its edible tubers. Stems with milky sap, prostate, rooting at the nodes, rarely twining. Leaves, up to 10 × 13 cm, triangular to broadly ovate in outline, entire or more or less deeply palmately 3-7-lobed, more or less cordate at the base. Flowers in several flowered axillary clusters on a long peduncle. Corolla funnel-shaped, pale mauve to whitish. Capsule ovoid.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	batatas: Haitian name for the Sweet potato
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Probably native to South America
Growth form(s):	Climber.
Insects associated with this species:	Achaea catella (Larval food plant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 149. Gonçalves, M.L. (1987). Convolvulaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(1) Pages 89 - 90. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 36. Mwanga Mwanga, I.J.-C., Sosef, M.S.M. & Simoes, A.R.G., (2022). Convolvulaceae Flore d'Afrique Centrale Nouvelle Serie Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Pages 185 - 188. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 43.

Other sources of information about Ipomoea batatas:

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Flora of Burundi: Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Caprivi: Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Ipomoea batatas
Flora of the DRC: Ipomoea batatas
Flora of the DRC: cultivated Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Malawi: Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Mozambique: Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Rwanda: Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Rwanda: cultivated Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Zambia: Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Zimbabwe: Ipomoea batatas
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Ipomoea batatas

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Ipomoea batatas
African Plant Database: Ipomoea batatas
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Ipomoea batatas
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ipomoea batatas
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Ipomoea batatas
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Ipomoea batatas
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ipomoea batatas
JSTOR Plant Science: Ipomoea batatas
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Ipomoea batatas
Plants of the World Online: Ipomoea batatas
Tropicos: Ipomoea batatas
Wikipedia: Ipomoea batatas