Common Name:

General Information

Ipomoea obscura is an annual or perennial herb with slender, twining or prostrate stems up to 3 metres long and 2cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It also has ornamental value as a climber with attractive flowers[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Widespread in tropical and south Africa, through tropical Asia to northern Australia and Fiji.

Habitat

Grassland, thickets, hedges, open forest, waste ground, roadsides and as a weed in cultivated fields, occasionally along sandy beaches, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	2.50 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in full sun[]. Succeeds in most soils, so long as they are well-drained[].
The plant is often grown as an ornamental, and is also used as a food and traditional medicine. It has been spread by human activity and escapes from cultivation. It has been declared to be an invasive weed in many areas, particularly Hawaii and the Caledonian Islands[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable or added to soups[]. The leaves are mucilaginous, with a pleasant smell[].

Medicinal

The leaf sap is used to treat fits of insanity[].
A paste of the leaves, combined with the leaves of Argyreia mollis and alcohol, is applied to open sores and pustules[, ]. The dried and powdered leaves are used to treat aphthae[].

A root decoction is drunk against dysentery[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: How many suns are in our solar system