Ipomoea costata F.Muell. ex Benth.

A vine or shrub. It grows each year from the fleshy tuber. It grows to 1 m high. The longer branches reach over and creep along the ground. These often from roots at the nodes. The plant can sometimes climb up trees. The plant loses its leaves during drought. The leaves are smooth and green and leathery. The veins are yellow. The leaves are heart shaped and 5-9 cm long by 5-8 cm wide. The leaf stalk is stiff and 8 cm long. The midrib is curved. The flowers are large and showy and funnel shaped. They are pink with a red throat. The flowers are 4-5 cm across. The fruit is a capsule 1.2 cm across and with 4 or 5 black seeds. The seeds have white hairs. The tubers or large swollen roots can be 10-15 cm long. These tubers can be on long runner roots and up to 3 m from the plant. The tubers directly below the mature plant are more woody.

It is a tropical plant. It can tolerate fire. It grows in desert conditions. Plants are mostly in sandy soil. They need an open sunny position with very good drainage. It can grow in arid places.

The tuber is roasted and eaten.

Plant can be grown from tubers. They can also be grown from seed, stem cuttings or root cuttings.