Ipomoea batatas aka Sweetpotato

The sweet potato, or Ipomoea batatas, is a dicotyledonous plant in the Convolvulaceae family. It is primarily grown for its large, starchy, sweet-tasting tuberous roots, which are used as a root vegetable. The young shoots and leaves of the plant are sometimes eaten as greens. Sweet potatoes come in various flesh and skin colors, with cultivars bred for specific qualities. Although often called "yams" in North America, sweet potatoes are not related to true yams, which are monocots. The plant is native to the tropical regions of the Americas and is the only crop plant of major importance in the Convolvulaceae family. The genus Ipomoea, which includes sweet potatoes, also includes several garden flowers called morning glories. Some cultivars of I. batatas are grown as ornamental plants under the name tuberous morning glory. The sweet potato plant has been cultivated for around 2,000 years for its sweet tasting tubers. It is believed to have been brought to Europe by Columbus on his expedition. While the variety of sweet potato plant that produces edible tubers can be planted for its trailing vines, different variations have been cultivated specifically for their ornamental foliage. The ornamental sweet potato vine produces sweet potato tubers, but they are typically bland and bitter. It is important to note that it is not recommended to eat any element of a sweet potato vine that has not been specifically cultivated for food purposes, as it may have been treated with harmful pesticides. In addition to the tubers, the leaves of the sweet potato plant are edible and used in many dishes around the world. The sweet potato is a staple in cuisines from Africa to Southeast Asia and has been domesticated for over 5,000 years.