Ipomoea mauritiana
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (12)
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. 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 Burundi: Ipomoea mauritianaFlora of Caprivi: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of the DRC: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Malawi: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Mozambique: Ipomoea mauritiana
Flora of Rwanda: 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