bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Ipomoea costata, commonly known as rock morning glory, is an Australian native plant.[2] It is found in northern Australia, from Western Australia, through the Northern Territory, to Queensland.[3] Its tubers provide a form of bush tucker to some Aboriginal peoples, known as bush potato,[4] or (to the Ngururrpa groups in WA), karnti.[5]

Ipomoea costata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Convolvulaceae
Genus:	Ipomoea
Species:	I. costata
Binomial name
Ipomoea costata Benth.[1]

Description

It is a prostrate or climbing perennial growing up to 3 m high, with purple-blue-pink flowers from February to November.[2] Juvenile form is a vine, maturing into a woody-stemmed shrub with vine-like stems. Leaves are broad and leathery, 4-9 cm long.[4] Tubers are rounded, 12-20 cm long by 5-18 cm wide, with a single plant potentially having up to twenty tubers.[6]

Habitat

It occurs on sandy or rocky soils, often over limestone,[2] and on spinifex sand plains in northern Australia.[4]

Uses

It is the source of bush potato, a bush tucker food for Aboriginal people.[4] Bush potatoes are cooked on the warm earth under coals, and are peeled when cooked.[6]

Aboriginal names

In Central Australia, I. costata is also known to Aboriginal people by the following names:[7]

• Alyawarr: anaty
• Anmatyerr: anaty or anek
• Eastern Arrernte: anatye
• Western Arrernte: natye
• Pintupi: ala or yala
• Warlpiri: karnti or paparda

References

External links

• Alice Springs Town Council

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