1.2- Genus Ipomoea Lour. - Morning glory, Sweet potato + Overview Ipomoea Lour. ( Morning glory, Sweet potato) is the largest genus in the tribe Ipomoeeae, in the flowering plantfamilyConvolvulaceae, with about 600species. It is a large and diverse group with common names including morning glory, water convolvulus or kangkung, sweet potato, bindweed, moonflower, etc. The genus occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and comprises annual and perennialherbaceous plants, lianas, shrubs and small trees; most of the species are twining climbing plants. Synonyms Acmostemon Pilg. Batatas Choisy Bonanox Raf. Calonyction Choisy Calycantherum Klotzsch Diatremis Raf. Dimerodisus Gagnep. Exogonium Choisy Mina Cerv. Parasitipomoea Hayata Pharbitis Choisy Quamoclit Mill. Quamoclit Moench + Species The Genus Ipomoea Lour. has about 600species. The most important species include: 1- Ipomoea aquaticaForssk. - water spinach, water morning glory, water convolvulus, "Chinese spinach", "swamp cabbage" 2- Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. - sweet potato, "tuberous morning glory" 3- Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq. - giant potato, kiribadu ala, likam (Hawaii) Source: Ipomoea Lour. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2- The most important species of genus Ipomoea Lour.
2.1- Species Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. + Overview Ipomoea aquaticaForssk. is a species in the Genus IpomoeaLour., in the tribe Ipomoeeae, in the family Convolvulaceae of the order Solanales. Ipomoea aquaticaForssk. is a semi aquatic, tropical plant grown as a vegetable for its tender shoots and leaves. It is found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, although it is not known where it originated. Occasionally, it has also been mistakenly called "kale" in English, although kale is a strain of mustard belonging to the species Brassica oleraceaand is completely unrelated to water spinach, which is a species of morning glory. + The common names This plant is known in English as water spinach, river spinach, water morning glory, water convolvulus, or by the more ambiguous names Chinese spinach, Chinese Watercress, Chinese convolvulus, swamp cabbage or kangkong in Southeast Asia. It is known as phak bung in Thai and Laotian, ong choy in Cantonese, kongxincai in Mandarin Chinese, rau muống in Vietnamese, gazun in Myanmar, trokuon in Khmer, kangkung in Indonesian and Malay… + Cultivation Ipomoea aquatica is most commonly grown in East, South and Southeast Asia. It flourishes naturally in waterways and requires little, if any, care. It is used extensively in Burmese, Thai, Lao, Cambodian, Malay, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Chinese cuisine, especially in rural or kampung (village) areas. The vegetable is also extremely popular in Taiwan, where it grows well. The vegetable is a common ingredient in Southeast Asian dishes. Stir-fried water spinach is a popular vegetable dish in Southeast Asia. Source: Ipomoea aquatica - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2.2- Species Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. - Sweet potato or Kumara + Overview The sweet potato or kumara (Ipomoea batatas) is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the family Convolvulaceae of the order Solanales. The plant is a herbaceousperennialvine, bearing alternate heart-shaped or palmately lobed leaves and medium-sized sympetalousflowers. The edible tuberous root is long and tapered, with a smooth skin whose color ranges between yellow, orange, red, brown, purple, and beige. Its flesh ranges from beige through white, red, pink, violet, yellow, orange, and purple. Sweet potato varieties with white or pale yellow flesh are less sweet and moist than those with red, pink or orange flesh. The sweet potato is only distantly related to the potato (Solanum tuberosum) and does not belong to the nightshade family. + Origin The origin and domestication of sweet potato is thought to be in either Central America or South America. In Central America, sweet potatoes were domesticated at least 5,000 years ago. In South America, Peruvian sweet potato remnants dating as far back as 8000 BC have been found. + Cultivars Sweet potato was first domesticated in the Americas more than 5,000 years ago. As of 2013, there are approximately 7,000 sweet potato cultivars. People grow sweet potato in many parts of the world, such as New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Japan, Hawaii, China, and North America. However, sweet potato is not widely cultivated in Europe. Source: Sweet potato - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2.3- Species Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq. - Giant potato + Overview The giant potato (Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq.) is a species in the Genus IpomoeaLour., in the tribe Ipomoeeae, in the family Convolvulaceae of the order Solanales. The giant potato is a type of morning glory plant. It is like the sweet potato and 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. + Characteristics The origin of Ipomoea mauritiana is unknown, it is there all over the tropics. It is naturalised in many parts of the world. This vine has stems that can grow to 10 m. Leaf blade is circular in outline, 7-18 X 7-22 cm, usually palmately 5-7-divided to or beyond middle, rarely entire or shallowly lobed. Inflorescences few to many flowered. Flowers are pink or reddish purple, with a darker center, funnelform, 5-6 cm across. + Medicinal uses The leaves and roots are used externally to treat tuberculosis and for the treatment of external and breast infections. In Ayurveda, a decoction of the tuberous roots are used for the preparation of medicinal wine. The Ayurvedic name is Kiribadu Ala, and it is also an ingardient in Chyavanprash. Source: Giant Potato From: http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Giant_Potato.html.