Ipomoea abrupta R.Br.

A woody twiner, glabrous or nearly so. Stems terete, fistulose, Leaves ovate, 5-9 (-15) by 5-7(-10) cm, deeply cordate at the base, shortly acuminate at the apex with an obtuse or retuse, mucronulate acumen; nerves 7-9 on either side of the midrib; petiole slender, 3-6(-10) cm long. Inflorescences axillary; peduncles shorter than the petioles, cymosely one-to several-flowered. Pedicels angular, slightly thickened towards the calyx, in fruit up to 2.5-3 cm long. Sepals slightly unequal, glabrous, coriaceous, with wrinkled back (in fruit), ovate, obtuse; outer ones 7½-10 mm long (in fruit up to 15 mm); inner ones a little shorter (in fruit up to 10-12 mm long). Corolla funnel-shaped, 7.5-9 cm long. Stamens and style included. Ovary glabrous. Capsule broadly ovoid or globose, c. 12 mm high (according to Bailey up to 2.5 cm diam.), apiculate by the long style-base. Seeds 3-4, c. 6 mm long, with long silky hairs near the margins and along these.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests near the coast. Plants grow most actively in the wet season and die back in the dry season. It needs a well drained soil and a sunny position. It can only tolerate light frosts. It grows between sea level and 680 m altitude in tropical Queensland.

The thickened roots are eaten raw or cooked. Young roots are less fibrous.

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.