Sweet potato - Ipomoea batatas

Common Name :	Sweet potato.
Binomial Name :	Ipomoea batatas
Family :	Convolvulaceae
Bangla Name :	Mishti Alu (মিষ্টি আলু)
Photo Taken :	Bangladesh

Ipomoea batatas, commonly referred to as the sweet potato, is a versatile and nutritious root vegetable. Despite its name, the sweet potato is not closely related to the traditional potato. It belongs to the Convolvulaceae family and is native to Central and South America. The sweet potato has a rich history, dating back thousands of years. It is believed to have been domesticated in tropical regions of the Americas around 5,000 years ago. Today, sweet potatoes are consumed worldwide and are valued for their delicious taste, nutritional content, and versatility in various culinary preparations.

Sweet potato is a perennial vine with a sprawling growth habit. Its long, slender, and trailing stems can reach several meters in length and tend to twine and climb upon available supports. The heart-shaped or lobed leaves, measuring about 5 to 10 centimeters in length, are arranged alternately along the stems. They come in various shades of green, as well as purple or reddish tones.

Below the ground, the plant develops tuberous roots that are the prized edible part of the sweet potato. These roots come in different sizes, shapes, and colors, with varieties featuring white, yellow, orange, or purple flesh and skin. The sweet potato plant's dense foliage provides an attractive ground cover, suppressing weeds and conserving soil moisture. It is valued not only for its nutritious harvest but also for its ornamental vines and leaves.

In addition to its edible tuberous roots, Ipomoea batatas, the sweet potato plant, produces beautiful flowers and fruits. The flowers are trumpet-shaped and can vary in color, with shades of pink, purple, or white being common. The blooms are typically about 5 centimeters in diameter and are borne on long stalks that emerge from the leaf axils. After the flowers fade, small capsules develop that contain the plant's seeds. However, sweet potatoes are more commonly propagated through vegetative means, such as planting stem cuttings or using existing tubers.

Photos of these Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) plants were taken from Bangladesh during December 2018. This was from my Mom's balcony garden where she was growing few vegetables.


Written by Lonely Traveler,
For blog icflora.blogspot.com