Ipomoea mauritiana
All images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View selected images
Photo: Helen Pickering
Within the Victoria Falls fenced area over the knife edge bridge on the side away from the Falls
Photo: Helen Pickering
Within the Victoria Falls fenced area over the knife edge bridge on the side away from the Falls
Photo: Helen Pickering
Within the Victoria Falls fenced area over the knife edge bridge on the side away from the Falls
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along track from rangerpost to old Urema river crossing, Gorongosa National Park, Muanza
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along track from rangerpost to old Urema river crossing, Gorongosa National Park, Muanza
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along track from rangerpost to old Urema river crossing, Gorongosa National Park, Muanza
Photo: Bart Wursten
Yaofa, Aruwimi River, upstream from Bomane
Photo: Bart Wursten
Yaofa, Aruwimi River, upstream from Bomane
Photo: Bart Wursten
Yaofa, Aruwimi River, upstream from Bomane
Photo: Bart Wursten
Yaofa, Aruwimi River, upstream from Bomane
Photo: Bart Wursten
Yaofa, Aruwimi River, upstream from Bomane
Photo: Bart Wursten
Yaofa, Aruwimi River, upstream from Bomane
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Ipomoea digitata sensu Baker & Rendle |
| Common names: | Giant potato (English) Large forest ipomoea (English) Natal cotton plant (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Robust perennial climber, growing from large tuberous roots. Stems twining rarely prostrate, becoming woody. Leaves almost circular in outline, usually palmately 3-9-lobed, sometimes entire, up to 20 × 15 cm; lobes lanceolate to ovate, acuminate; petiole 3-11 cm long. Inflorescences axillary, few to many-flowered; peduncle up to 18 cm long. Calyx markedly convex, 6-11 mm long, clasping the corolla tube. Corolla funnel-shaped but more or less distinctly 5-lobed, 6-9 cm in diameter, reddish-purple or pinkish-mauve with a darker centre. Capsule ovoid-spherical, hairless, Seeds covered in silky hairs c. 7 mm long. |
| Type location: |
Cultivated plant from Mauritius |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | mauritiana: from Mauritius |
| Habitat: | In open riverine woodland and tree savanna, on the banks of rivers and swamps and by roodsides, often in sandy soils. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1000 m |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | More or less pantropical; also in South Africa. |
| FZ divisions: | N,W |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Monday 13 December 2010 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 131. (Includes a picture). 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 48. Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22 SANBI, Pretoria Page 63. Gonçalves, M.L. (1987). Convolvulaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(1) Page 117. 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 183 - 185. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 88. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 43. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 54. (Includes a picture). Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 420 - 421. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Ipomoea mauritiana:
Our websites:
Flora of Angola: Ipomoea mauritianaFlora of Burundi: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Caprivi: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of the DRC: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Kenya: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Malawi: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Mozambique: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Rwanda: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Tanzania: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Uganda: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Zambia: Ipomoea mauritiana
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Ipomoea mauritianaAfrican Plant Database: Ipomoea mauritiana
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Ipomoea mauritiana
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ipomoea mauritiana
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Ipomoea mauritiana
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Ipomoea mauritiana
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ipomoea mauritiana
JSTOR Plant Science: Ipomoea mauritiana
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Ipomoea mauritiana
Plants of the World Online: Ipomoea mauritiana
Tropicos: Ipomoea mauritiana
Wikipedia: Ipomoea mauritiana