43. Ipomoea batatas (Linnaeus) Lamarck in J. Lamarck and J. Poiret, Tabl. Encycl. 1: 465. 1793.
[I]
Sweet potato
Convolvulus batatas Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 154. 1753
Perennials, root relatively large, tuberlike. Stems ± trailing, rarely twining. Leaf blades cordate, broadly ovate, or 5–7-lobed, 50–100+ × 40–100 mm overall, base cordate, surfaces glabrous or hairy. Peduncles glabrous or hairy, hairs appressed. Flowers: sepals lanceolate to oblong, 8–15 mm, chartaceous; corolla usually lavender, pink, or purplish, sometimes white, throat usually darker inside, funnelform, (30–)40–70 mm. Seeds glabrous. 2n = 60, 84, 90.
Flowering year-round. Abandoned plantings, thickets; 0–200+ m; introduced; Fla., Kans., La., Miss., N.Y., N.C., Pa., S.C., Tex., Utah, Va.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America; introduced also in Asia, Africa.
Reports of Ipomoea batatas from northern parts of the flora area appear to be based on ephemerals.
SELECTED REFERENCE Austin, D. F. 1978. The Ipomoea batatas complex–I. Taxonomy. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 105: 114–129.
