Sweet Potato Vine
In addition to drawing, Regina Hughes was skilled at describing the shape, color, and features of plants. When Hughesia reginae was named for her in 1970, the scientists who assigned the name said she contributed greatly to the world’s knowledge of the plants she drew and described. Without her work, biologists would struggle to identify thousands of plants.
Growing at Gallaudet
Name: Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas)
Family: Convolvulaceae (Morning glories, bindweeds)
Native region: Americas - tropical regions
Recorded: 5,000 years ago
Growing tips: Heat-tolerant, usually grown as ground cover in hot, humid areas. Best colors when grown in full sun. Bred for leaves, not suitable for eating unlike other varieties of sweet potato.
Although sweet potatoes and morning glories produce food and flowers, most of the plants in this family are actually invasive weeds!