Ipomoea mauritiana
| Ipomoea mauritiana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Convolvulaceae |
| Genus: | Ipomoea |
| Species: | I. mauritiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Convolvulus paniculatus | |
The giant potato (Ipomoea mauritiana) is a type of morning glory plant. Like the sweet potato, it belongs to the Ipomoea genus. It grows as a vine.
Its origins are uncertain, but it has been recorded in West Africa, including in Gambia and the riparian forests of Benin, as well as Australia's Northern Territory. It is naturalised in many parts of the world, including Taiwan and Hawaii (where it is called likam.)
Specimens have been collected or observations taken in Australia, Belize, Benin, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, DRC, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Honduras, Indonesia, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Micronesia, Federated States of Myanmar, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo and Venezuela.
External links and references
Media related to Ipomoea mauritiana at Wikimedia Commons
- Ipomoea mauritiana, USDA plant database
- Ipomoea mauritiana, gardentia.net
- Burmese Indigenous Medicinal Plants (also lists further synonyms)