Common Name:

General Information

Ipomoea carnea is a shrub growing 1 - 3 metres tall, with an erect or ascending habit when growing in open positions; in shady positions it is more likely to adopt a climbing habit with twining stems up to 5 metres long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a livestock-excluding hedge[].

Known Hazards

The leaves are slightly purgative and considered to be toxic to livestock[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to northern Mexico

Habitat

Along rivers and canals, sometimes on beaches; at elevations from sea-level up to 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is grown as an ornamental. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in many areas, often being classified as invasive[].
The plant flowers throughout the year, except during cool periods[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable even though they are slightly purgative[].

Medicinal

The leaves are slightly purgative[].

A latex in the plant is used to treat skin problems[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown as a hedge and green manure[].
The plant is traditionally grown in living fences in the northwestern Himalayas, where it helps to exclude livestock and other animals; mark out land boundaries; whilst also providing a range of medicinal and other uses[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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