Ipomjea.] COXVOLVULACEM. 117 



The following are the more important species of Iporncea which are culti- 

 vated within the area of this flora, or are occasionally met with as 

 garden-escapes : — 



Ipomaea Batatas, Lamk. F. B.I.iv,202; Duthie and Fuller Field and 

 Garden Crops N.-W. Prov. and Oudh ; Watt E. D.; Prain Beng. PL 735 ; 

 Cooke Fl. Bomb, ii, 251. Convolvulus Batatas, Linn.; DC. L'Orig. PL 

 Cult. 4'2. Batata? ednlis, Chois. : Boyle 111. 207.— Vera. Ratalu, mitha-alu, 

 for the sake of shakarkand-alu (The sweet Potato).— Largely cultivated 

 within the area the tuberous roots which are eaten as a vegetable. There 

 are two forms, one with red and the other with white tubers. The plant 

 i* hardly ever seen in flower and still more rarely in fruit. It is widely 

 cultivated in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of both hemispheres. 

 It is believed to be a native of Trop. America. 



Ipomaea Jalapa, Pursh.. I (Exogonium) Purga, Hayne. (Jalap). The 

 turnip-like roots contain a resin which has valuable purgative properties, 

 The plant has been experimentally cultivated in the hilly districts of 

 Northern and Southern India with a view to supplying the drug locally. 

 It is a native of Mexico. 



Ipomaea Leari, Pa xt. A very handsome perennial climber with dark-blue 

 flowers, which turn red when fading. It is much grown within the area 

 as a trellis-plant, and was introduced into India probably from Temp. 

 S. America. 



Ipomaea pulchella, Roth ; Pra in Beng. PL 737. I. palmata, F. B. I. iv. 

 210 \in part). Convolvulus digitatus, Roxb. FL. Ind. i, 479. This species 

 is universally cultivated in the gardens of N. India, where it is very 

 hardy. It is usually known by the name of the " Railway creeper," on 

 account of its frequent use as the principal decorative plant at many 

 railway stations. It is a perennial climber with glabrous palmately 5- 

 lobed leaves and pale-purple campanulate flowers. It i3 supposed to be 

 wild in W. and S. India and in Ceylon, and is cultivated in many tropical 

 countries. 



Ipomaea dasysperma, Jacq.; F. B. I. iv, 215. A glabrous twiner with 

 pedately divided leaves, and the flowers are buff -coloured with a purple 

 centre. Clarke in F. B. I. I.e. regarded it as a cultivated variety of I. 

 pulchella. It is said, however, to be wild in Nubia and Abyssinia. 



Ipomaea purpurea, Both ; F. B. I. iv, 200 ; Collett FL Siml. 336 ; Prain Beng. 

 PL 735 ; Cooke FL Bomb ii, 252 (Morning Glory).- A hairy twiner with 

 entire leaves and large handsome flowers varying in colour from white 

 to dark-purple. "Within the area of this flora it is met with only in 

 gardens. It is abundant and apparently wild on the Himalaya from 

 Kashmir to Sikkim up to 7.000 feet. It somewhat resembles J. hederacea 

 at fir.-t sight, but may be distinguished by its smaller and entiro leaves 

 and by the sepals not having long ligulate tips. It is cultivated in all 

 warm countries, and was probably introduced into India frum Trop. 

 America. 



Ipomaea tricolor. Cav.; Prain Beny. PI. 736. I. rubro-ecerulea, Hook.,- Cooke 

 Fl. Bomb, ii, 252.— An annual climber with largo handsome blue or white 



