2 1 2 ConvolvtUacece. \Ipoma:a. 



1. *I. dig'itata, L. Syst. Nat. ed. lo, 924 (1759). Itiribadu, S. 



Batatas paniculata^ Choisy, Thw. Enum. 210. C. P. 499. 

 Fl. B. Ind. iv. 202. Bot. Reg. t. 62 {I. panicidatd). 



Perennial, with very large ovoid or elongated tuberous 

 roots ; stems long, twining, tough, glabrous and shining, 

 rather glaucous ; 1. large, 4-6 in., broader than long, deeply 

 palmately cut into 5 or 7 lanceolate, acuminate, obtuse lobes, 

 glabrous, paler and with prominent veins beneath, petiole 

 nearly as long as L, glabrous, channelled above; fl. very large, 

 on glabrous ped., numerous, cymes corymbose, dichotomous, 

 peduncle long, exceeding petiole, stout ; sep. under \ in., 

 rotundate, obtuse, very concave, glabrous ; cor. funnel-shaped, 

 limb 2|— 3 in. diam., lobes obvious, emarginate ; ov. 4-celled, 

 glabrous ; capsule | in., closely surrounded by enlarged rather 

 fleshy Sep., ovoid ; seeds covered with very long brownish 

 cottony hair which is readily detached. 



Low country; rather common, but generally near gardens or houses. 

 Much planted, and doubtfully native here. Fl. April, May ; bright mauve- 

 purple, darker in the tube. 



Throughout the Tropics. 



The juice of the root is much used as a medicine for increasing the 

 flow of milk and other secretions. 



/. cissoides, Griseb., is an abundant weed in Peradeniya Gardens and 

 as an escape in the neighbourhood. It is C. P. 1941, and a native of 



5. America and W. Indies. 



/. Batatas, Lam., Batata, S., is the Sweet Potato, largely cultivated, 

 and often found about deserted gardens. It is a native probably of 

 America, but is not known wild. There are several varieties grown here. 



2. *I. hederacea, /af(7. Collect, i. 124 (1786). Tali, T. 

 Pharbitis Ail, Chois., Thw. Enum. 210. C. P. 1938. 



Fl. B. Ind. iv. 199. Bot. Mag. t. 188 {Convol-.nihis Nil). Bot. Reg. t. 

 276 (/. carulea). Bentl. and Trim. Med. PI. t. 185 (/. Nil). 



Annual, stems twining, slender, hirsute with deflexed 

 hair ; 1. 2-3 in., usually broader than long, cordate at base, 

 palmately 3-lobcd, lobes deep, acute, middle one the largest, 

 slightly hairy on both sides, especially on veins beneath, 

 petiole a little shorter than 1.; fl. large, on short stout ped., 

 usually solitary but often in threes, bracts linear, persistent, 

 peduncle shorter than petiole ; sep. equal, long, \ in., linear, 

 dilated below, acute, hairy; cor. tubular-funnel-shaped, limb 

 2 in. diam., ov. 3-celled ; capsule \ in., surrounded by the 

 much longer enlarged sep., globose, 3-valved ; seeds usually 



6, \ in., ovoid-triangular, glabrous, dull, black. 



Low country, commonly cultivated but doubtfully wild, unless 

 perhaps, in the dry region. Fl. Jan. -March ; bright pnle blue or pink. 

 Found throughout the Tropics, but probably originally American. 



