Ipomoea cairica
Coastal Morning Glory
Other names: Mile-a-minute
Introduced From: Tropical Africa
Family: Convolvulaceae 1500 species in 55 genera worldwide, 20 genera in Australia. Includes sweet potato
Habitat: Wastelands and disturbed sites. Gardens, roadsides, coastal sand dunes. Often trails over shrubs and fences.
Uses: Tubers edible cooked, stems are also edible cooked.
Season:
References: Richardson and Shepherd, Eat The Weeds, Wildlife of Hawaii
Ipomoea cairica flowers all year. The flowers are pink to purple, very occasionally white, with a darker coloured throat (the inside of the flower).
There are about 500 species of Ipomoea in the world, and about 40 in Australia, some native and some introduced. Most of them are vines, climbing plants or ground-trailing creepers. Some are called "Bush Potatoes" and their tubers were highly favoured staple Aboriginal foods.
WARNING: Some species of Ipomoea have edible parts, but others are poisonous.

Photo: Ipomoea cairica, Coastal Morning Glory. Watsons Bay, NSW. High resolution (1870 x 2421)

Photo: Ipomoea cairica, Coastal Morning Glory. Watsons Bay, NSW. High resolution (2865 x 2000)

Photo: Ipomoea cairica, Coastal Morning Glory. Watsons Bay, NSW. High resolution (1894 x 1618)
Bush Tucker Plant Foods - Edible Weeds
Bush Tucker Plant Foods - Tubers
Bush Tucker Plant Foods Index
Return to Site Map
ipomoea
Website by Webworks® 2005-2012. This page was last modified on the 7th of November, 2011.
|