Ipomoea crassicaulis (Benth.) B.L.Robinson, Proc. Amer. Acad. 51 (1916)
Latin for 'thick stalked'.

Synonyms
Batatas crassicualis Benth., Ipomoea fistulosa Mart. ex Choisy

Description
Shrub up to 3 m tall. Twigs with white sap. Leaves alternate, simple, palmately-veined, leaf heart-shaped with cordate base. Flowers ca. 100 mm in diameter, white-pink-violet, placed in several flowered cymes. Fruits ca. 18 mm long, capsules, containing up to 4 hairy seeds.

Ecology
Escaped from cultivation and naturalized at low altitudes along rivers, canals, sometimes on the beach. On open places.

Uses
Cultivated as an ornamental plant. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable by the Madurese.

Distribution
Native of America (Mexico and Florida to Brazil and Paraguay). Tropical Asia. In Borneo only collected in East Kalimantan (Sungai Wain area).