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Ipomoea calobra

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ipomoea calobra
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Ipomoea
Species:
I. calobra
Binomial name
Ipomoea calobra

Ipomoea calobra, commonly known as weir vine, is an Australian native plant[2] found in northern Australia, largely Western Australia and Queensland.[3]

Description

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It is a climber growing up to 6 m high, with purple-blue-pink trumpet flowers from January to June.[2]

Habitat

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It occurs on undulating plains, dunes, and hardpans in red sandy and clayey soils, and pebbly loam,[2] and is often found twined up mulga and other acacias.[4]

Uses

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The tubers of this species are edible, and were a highly favoured staple food source (bush tucker) for Indigenous Australians.[4] The mature tubers are broadly similar nutritionally to sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), with higher concentrations of starch, potassium (K), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn).[5]

Aboriginal names

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In some parts of Australia, I. calobra is also known to Aboriginal people by the following names:[5]

  • Murchison-Gascoyne area (WA): kulyu
  • Tjupan Ngalia group (Leonora, WA): wutha/wather

References

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  1. ^ "Ipomoea calobra". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Grazyna Paczkowska (8 November 1996). "Ipomoea calobra W.Hill & F.Muell. Weir Vine". FloraBase. Western Australian Herbarium. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Occurrence records". The Australasian Virtual Herbarium (AVH). Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b Low, Tim (1991). Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus & Robertson. p. 163. ISBN 0207169306.
  5. ^ a b Woodall, G.; Moule, M.; Eckersley, P.; Boxshall, B.; Puglisi, B. (2010). "New Root Vegetables for the Native Food Industry: Promising Selections from south Western Australia's tuberous flora (09/161)" (PDF). Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. Retrieved 16 February 2021.