Ipomoea cairica

Coastal Morning Glory

Other names: Mile-a-minute
Introduced From: Tropical Africa
Family: Convolvulaceae 1500 species in 55 genera worldwide, 20 genera in Australia. Includes sweet potato
Habitat: Wastelands and disturbed sites. Gardens, roadsides, coastal sand dunes. Often trails over shrubs and fences.
Uses: Tubers edible cooked, stems are also edible cooked.
Season:
References: Richardson and Shepherd, Eat The Weeds, Wildlife of Hawaii

Ipomoea cairica flowers all year. The flowers are pink to purple, very occasionally white, with a darker coloured throat (the inside of the flower).

There are about 500 species of Ipomoea in the world, and about 40 in Australia, some native and some introduced. Most of them are vines, climbing plants or ground-trailing creepers. Some are called "Bush Potatoes" and their tubers were highly favoured staple Aboriginal foods.

According to Eat The Weeds, it has edible roots and stems though they are slightly bitter and both are slightly cyanogenetic. Roots were boiled, or, grated then roasted, no doubt to drive off the cyanide.

WARNING: Some species of Ipomoea have edible parts (including the commercialy grown sweet potato), but others are poisonous.

Photo: Ipomoea cairica, Coastal Morning Glory. Watsons Bay, NSW. High resolution (1870 x 2421)

Photo: Ipomoea cairica, Coastal Morning Glory. Watsons Bay, NSW. High resolution (2865 x 2000)

Photo: Ipomoea cairica, Coastal Morning Glory. Watsons Bay, NSW. High resolution (1894 x 1618)

Bush Tucker Plant Foods - Edible Weeds
Bush Tucker Plant Foods - Tubers
Bush Tucker Plant Foods Index
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ipomoea

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