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Wild Potato Vine, Man of the Earth, Wild Sweet Potato, Bigroot Morning Glory - Ipomoea pandurata


Family: Convolvulaceae - Morning-glory family Genus Common Name: Morning Glory Native Status: Native
Ipomoea pandurata - Wild Potato Vine, Man of the Earth, Wild Sweet Potato, Bigroot Morning Glory. This member of the morning glory family, like its cousin the sweet potato, has an edible root - but research it yourself before eating it, and don't eat it raw.

Journal Articles Referencing Morning Glory

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Ipomoea pandurata

Distribution of Ipomoea pandurata in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2009-July-04Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
Purple-pink center on this large-flowered morning glory is an identifying characteristic.
Ipomoea pandurata

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2016-July-01Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The flower of Ipomoea pandurata is funnelform in shape. The deep pink interior is visible even from the outside through the white corolla tube.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Ipomoea pandurata

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2016-July-01Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The inflorescence of Wild Potato Vine are flowering stalks developing in the axils of the leaves. Each flowering stalk may have 1 to 5 flowers. In my *limited* experience it is unusual for there be more than one flower open on a flowering stalk at the same time.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Ipomoea pandurata

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2016-July-01Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron 90mm Macro
While there may only be a single flower on a given flowering stalk open at the same time, the stalks may be closely placed together, allowing for several blossoms to be clustered together.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Ipomoea pandurata

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2016-July-01Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The leaves of Ipomoea pandurata are alternate along the stem and on long petioles (although usually shorter than the flowering stalk.) The leaf bases are usually cordate, and the tip is acute to acuminate.
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Ipomoea pandurata

Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-July-04Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The wild potato plant is a morning glory vine which can be 15' long or longer.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Ipomoea pandurata

References used for identification and information:
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Ipomoea pandurata initially published on USWildflowers.com 2009-07-06; Updated 2017-03-02

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302