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Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'
| Family Name: | Convolvulaceae |
| Common Name: | Sweet Potato Vine, Blackie Sweet Potato |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber, Creeper |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 0.2 m to 0.3 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.6 m to 1 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous vine with a trailing or creeping habit up to 1.8 m long. |
|---|---|
| Roots | Although the tuberous roots are edible, they are not typically eaten, because they are not sweet and typically quite small. The tubers are reddish brown. |
| Foliage | Dark purple to blackish leaves are palmately lobed. |
| Flowers | Light purple flowers are trumpet-shaped and seldom produced in Singapore. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting, Suitable for Hanging Baskets, General, Vertical Greenery / Green Wall, Flowerbed / Border, Groundcover |
| Thematic Landscaping | Naturalistic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Toxic Upon Ingestion |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Seeds are poisonous upon ingestion. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Easy to Grow |
| Diseases | This cultivar is susceptible to rust, fungal leaf spots and stem rot. |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Storage Organ, Division |
| Maintenance Requirements Remarks | Can be trained on trellis. |
| Propagation Method Remarks | Seeds should be soaked for 24 hours or nicked before sowing. |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Purple, Black |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Thin |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green - Light Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Palmate) |
| Foliar Venation | Palmate |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Cordate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Root Tuber) |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Trumpet-shaped |
| Flowering Opening Time | Daytime |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 130 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1426 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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