sweet potato

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• sweet potato
• sweet-potato
• Sweet Potato
• Yam

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ipomoea batatas var. xanthorhiza
• Batatas edulis var. porphyrorhiza
• Ipomoea fastigiata var. platanifolia
• Ipomoea batatas var. fastigiata
• Convolvulus chrysorrhizus
• Convolvulus apiculata
• Ipomoea batatas var. subscandens
• Dioscorea cylindrica
• Ipomoea davidsoniae
• Pharbitis villosa
• Ipomoea batatas var. dissoluta
• Solanum batatas
• Ipomoea batatas var. erythrorrhiza
• Ipomoea batatas var. edulis
• Ipomoea batatas var. leucorrhiza
• Ipomoea batatas var. porphyrorhiza
• Ipomoea batatas var. cannabina
• Batatas edulis var. xanthorhiza
• Ipomoea fastigiata
• Ipomoea fastigiata var. ciliata
• Ipomoea edulis
• Ipomoea batatas var. lobata
• Ipomoea confertiflora
• Ipomoea batatas var. indivisa
• Ipomoea chrysorrhiza
• Batatas edulis var. leucorrhiza
• Ipomoea catesbaei
• Batatas edulis var. erythrorrhiza
• Ipomoea indica var. variabilis
• Ipomoea mucronata
• Ipomoea purpusii
• Ipomoea platanifolia
• Ipomoea tiliacea var. merremioides
• Ipomoea tiliacea var. smithii
• Ipomoea wallii
• Ipomoea vulsa
• Batatas betacea
• Batatas edulis
• Ipomoea variabilis
• Convolvulus batata
• Convolvulus batatas
• Convolvulus attenuatus
• Ipomoea batatas var. caespitosa
• Batatas wallii
• Convolvulus edulis
• Convolvulus platanifolius
• Convolvulus tuxtlensis
• Convolvulus tuberifer
• Convolvulus varius
• Convolvulus septangularis
• Ipomoea batatas var. batatas

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Solanales and the family Convolvulaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Ipomoea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Ipomoea batatas, exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions. Within Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing in both Portugal and Spain. Its presence extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically within the country of Greece. Moving toward the African continent, the species is established in Northern Africa. This widespread range includes significant populations located in Algeria and Egypt.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ipomoea batatas is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2200 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, inhabiting diverse environments including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the Cerrado (latu sensu) biome, Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial), and coastal Restinga ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Ipomoea batatas are characterized by a complex chromosomal makeup, with documented chromosome numbers typically reported as 84 or 90. Despite this high number of chromosomes, the species is identified with a ploidy level of 2, reflecting a sophisticated genomic structure that underpins its diverse physiological and medicinal properties.

Chromosome number :

84, 90

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Ipomoea batatas is characterized by a versatile growth strategy, functioning across a lifecycle that can be classified as annual, biennial, or perennial, though it is most commonly cultivated as a perennial in favorable climates. In terms of its morphological life forms, the plant exhibits significant adaptability; it can act as a therophyte, completing its life cycle through seeds, but more fundamentally operates as a geophyte due to its reliance on specialized underground storage organs. These tuberous roots allow the plant to persist through unfavorable environmental conditions, providing a mechanism for survival and regrowth that distinguishes its physiological complexity.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ipomoea batatas is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, with a strictly terrestrial habitat. As an obligatory vine, the plant exhibits a rambling, ascending shoot orientation, allowing it to climb or spread across surfaces. The plant's physical dimensions are significant, featuring a mean plant height of approximately 1 m, though it can reach a maximum height of up to 4 m. Its vegetative structure is extensive, with shoot lengths capable of reaching a maximum of 400 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Shoot length max:

400 cm

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ipomoea batatas is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. Morphologically, the foliage exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a mean of 8.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 13 cm. The leaf width also displays a broad spectrum, starting from a minimum of 3 cm and extending up to a maximum of 13 cm. The leaf form is notably lobed, contributing to its overall structural complexity. In terms of water storage and nutrient management, the plant does not exhibit succulence and lacks the physiological capability to function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external nitrogen availability within the soil to support its growth and developmental processes.

Leaf form :

lobed

Leaf length max:

13 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf width max:

13 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ipomoea batatas involves both sexual and asexual processes, with asexual reproduction being notably present. The flowering cycle typically begins in May and extends through September, producing characteristic violet flowers. These flowers vary in size, with lengths ranging from 0.3 cm to 7 cm and widths spanning between 3 cm and 5 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops a capsule-type fruit that measures between 0.5 cm and 0.8 cm in length. Each fruit is dehiscent and contains a seed count typically ranging from 1 to 10 seeds. The dispersal of these seeds is characterized by an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous patterns, indicating involvement by human activity.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Flower length max:

7 cm

Flower length min:

0.3 cm

Flower width max:

5 cm

Flower width min:

3 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ipomoea batatas has 2 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Journal of tropical medicine

Root

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Journal of Asian natural products research

Chemicals

Ipomoea batatas has 176 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, ANTHOCYANIN, Carotenoids, STARCH, Simonic acid B.

Anthocyanins

1. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland)
4. Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme
5. Journal of food science

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Results in chemistry
2. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
3. Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology
4. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Carotenoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Frontiers in genetics

STARCH

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of food science
4. Applied and environmental microbiology

Simonic acid B

1. Journal of Asian natural products research
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
4. Journal of natural products

CINNAMIC ACID

1. Journal of Asian natural products research
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Journal of natural products

Flavonoids

1. Journal of tropical medicine
2. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry
3. Applied and environmental microbiology

1,4-Dicqa

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in nutrition

3,5-DICQA

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in nutrition

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Ipomoea batatas has 570 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Antidepressant, Antifibrotic, Antitumor.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Journal of medicinal food

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Medical archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Antifibrotic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HETE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Ipomoea batatas has 43 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include obesity, breast cancer, inflammation, oxidative stress, cognitive impairment.

Obesity

1. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry
2. Behavioural brain research
3. Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Breast cancer

1. Planta medica
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Inflammation

1. Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Oxidative stress

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Cognitive impairment

1. Behavioural brain research
2. Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology

Cold

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. BMC plant biology

Lung cancer

1. Molecular therapy oncolytics
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Salt

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. BMC plant biology

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

1. Acta medica Iranica
2. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry

Pca

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Ipomoea batatas has 9 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CHCl3, EtOAc, EtOH, dried aerial parts, ethanol extracts.

Chcl3

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Etoac

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Etoh

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Dried aerial parts

1. Journal of natural products

Ethanol extracts

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Leaf extracts

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Methanolic extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

N-buoh

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Polysaccharides

1. Molecular therapy oncolytics