Ipomoea batatas

B. D., Williams, R. C., Francisco, B., Mewded, C. P., Oppong, C. B., Ayensu, C. W., Masinde, D. B., Chukwuma, A. G., Deresa, D. D., Yeboah, F., Rasaminirina, U. P., Igho-Osagie, M. J., Korir, K. B., Antwi-Boasiako, R. A., Mfodwo, A. S. M., Mutegeki, P., Atta-Adjei, P. K., Akomatey, S., Kumordzie, R., Borosova, C., Tang, A., Asase, G., Ameka & Simões, A. R. G., 2024, Advancing knowledge of West African morning glories: a taxonomic account of Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) from Ghana, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 397-429 : 409-410

6. Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., Tabl. Encycl. tome 1, 2(2): 465. 1793. Convolvulus batatas L., Sp. Pl.

1: 154 (1753). Lectotype (designated by Biju 2002:

755): INDIA, Herb. Linn. LINN 77.5 (S).

Perennial herbs, with underground, fusiform to ellipsoid, yellow or reddish edible storage roots, colour depending on cultivar. Stems prostrate, ascending or rarely twining, angular when young, 1–2 mm in diameter, often rooting at the lower nodes, striate, glabrous or glabrescent. Leaves simple, triangular to broadly ovate in outline, entire to 3–5-lobed, palmatifid or palmatisect, 4–14 × 4–16 cm, apex acute to acuminate and mucronate, base truncate or cordate, lobes triangular to lanceolate, glabrous to slightly pubescent on both surfaces; petiole 4–20 (–50) cm long, glabrous or puberulous. Inflorescence axillary cymes: peduncle 3–18 cm long, stout, angular, glabrous or pubescent; bracteoles narrow, oblong, acute, 2–3 mm long, early deciduous. Flowers few: pedicel 3–12 mm long. Sepals subequal, oblong to elliptical-oblong, apex acute and distinctly mucronate, 7–12 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, subcoriaceous, glabrous or pilose on the back and fimbriate, persistent in fruit; outer sepals oblong to elliptic-oblong, 7–12 × 2–3 mm; inner sepals elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong, 9–12 mm long, 4–5 mm wide. Corolla funnel-shaped, 3–5 cm long, violet or lilac to white, with dark purple center, glabrous. Stamens included; filaments unequal, two longest 8–14 mm long, three shortest 6–9 mm long, widened and pubescent at the base; anthers obloid, 2–3 mm long, base sagittate. Ovary ovoid, 1.5–2 mm long, sparsely pubescent, with long spreading hairs, 4-celled; style filiform, 15– 20 mm long, glabrous; stigmas 2-globose. Fruits ovoid, opening by 4-valves, 8–12 mm long; seeds ovoid to irregularly trigonous, 4–7 mm long, black, glabrous.

Vernacular names: Sweet potato (English), patate douce (French), lémongho, futa (Mindumu), lifita (Bavili), imongo (Banzabi), égwèta (Ivéa, Mitsogo), lungu (Bapunu), boniato (Spanish) ( Prota, 2024).

Flowering & fruiting: Produces flowers and fruits from August to December ( Heine,1963).

Habitat: Sweet potatoes are grown at low to medium elevations of up to 1,800 m in regions with moderate rainfall or in damp environments. Beyond this altitude, to 2,200 m and higher, it is grown as a fodder crop. Though its precise origin is unknown, this plant is widely cultivated across the tropics. When plants are not cultivated, they are typically found on roadsides close to homes and farms, as well as in abandoned fields ( Cartabiano-Leite et al., 2020).

Distribution: Native from Mexico to Venezuela and Ecuador ( POWO, 2024). In Ghana: Greater Accra and Eastern regions ( Fig. 7 ). Herbarium records indicate that Ipomoea batatas were primarily collected from cultivated areas, with only a small number of specimens found along roadsides, which most likely represent wild populations. This distribution implies that the plant was probably brought to Ghana for cultivation before escaping into the wild and establishing naturalized populations in disturbed habitats such as roadsides.

Specimens examined: GHANA, Greater Accra region, Maamobi , 04.05.1976, J. B . Hall 43692 ( GC) ; Volta region, Kade agricultural research station, 6 o 08’28’’N, 00 o 53’56’’W, alt. 200 m, 02.10.1996, H . Schmidt, J. Amponsah & M. Chinto 2271 (GC).

Conservation status: Data deficient ( Rowe et al., 2019).

Uses: The edible roots are roasted, fried, or boiled before consumption; they are processed to make crisps and sweet potato fries (chips); additionally, they provide starch, which is used in Korea to produce dang myun noodles; in New Guinea and Southeast Asia, sweet potato leaves are eaten as a vegetable; owing to their lovely flowers and foliage, certain sweet potato cultivars are planted as ornamentals ( Carvalho et al., 2023).

Figures

Fig. 7. DiStribution reCordS of I. violacea L., I. indica (Burm.) Merr., I. nil (L.) Roth,I. batatas (L.) Lam.and I. triloba L.in Ghana.