Ipomoea oblongata E.Mey. ex Choisy

Perennial with large fusiform tuberous root, up to 1 m long. Stems several, annual, up to 2 m long, prostrate, mostly angular, often stout, ± zigzag, usually (like petioles, leaves, peduncles and calyx), pubescent with yellowish or brownish hairs, rarely glabrous. Leaves variable in size and shape, usually oblong or elliptic, varying to ovate or linear, 20-150 x 4-80 mm, entire, base usually subcordate to rounded, apex acute to emarginate, margin ciliate, upper surface usually yellowish strigose, lower surface as thinly or more densely so; petiole usually shorter than leaf. Peduncles 1-several-flowered, usually shorter than leaves; bracteoles mostly lanceolate, hairy, a little shorter than sepals; pedicels not longer than 6 mm. Sepals subequal, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, outer ones densely hairy, inner ones less hairy, 12-25 mm long. Corolla funnel-shaped, 35-70 mm long and ± as wide, magenta; mid-petaline areas usually thinly silky hairy. Capsule indehiscent, subglobose, apiculate, style base persistent, glabrous, dark brown, loosely enclosed by sepals, 12-15 mm in diameter. Seeds 1-4, glabrous, punctate to smooth, grey, + 7 mm long. Flowering time October to April, mostly December and January.

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid regions. It grows in places with a marked dry season. It can grow in places with a dry season of 6-11 months. It needs well-drained soils. It grows between 245-2,045 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It grows in woodland and grassland on wet and sandy soils.

The roots or tubers are dried and eaten as a vegetable and also contain useful moisture. Caution: They may be poisonous and can be bitter. The dried crushed tubers have been mixed with milk and boiled in water.