Whitestar

Appearance

The stem of ''I. lacunosa'' is a slightly hairy, twisting, climbing and twining vine with a small taproot. It can reach 2 meters in length.

I. lacunose depends on its vining habit for dispersal. The roots are fibrous and have a small taproot. In a mature plant, the leaves take on a cordate shape, with a pointed tip, although sometimes it may have 3 deep lobes.

The leaves of a less mature plant are usually ovate. They are arranged alternately on the stem of the plant. The slender petioles are usually at least 3 centimeters long and have a slight adaxial groove. The leaves themselves can be up to 8 cm wide and 9.4 cm long. The margin of the leaf is typically purple and smooth. The upperside of the leaf may have a small amount of white hairs.

Distribution

Since ''Ipomoea lacunosa'' is a native species to the United States, the plant can be found in multiple areas throughout the country. ''Ipomoea lacunosa'' occurs in almost every state on the east coast, as well as some states in the Midwest, and California.

Habitat

''Ipomoea lacunosa'' occurs in a variety of habitat types, including disturbed areas, It grows on prairie, riverbanks, lakeshores, and roadsides, and in cultivated and abandoned fields and meadows.

Insects associated with the plant include bees such as bumblebees, ''Melitoma taurea'', ''Peponapis pruinosa'', and ''Cemolobus ipomoea''. The larvae of the plume moth ''Emmelina monodictyla'' feeds on the foliage, and it is host to several tortoise beetles.

Food

''Ipomoea lacunosa'' is one of the few species of ''Ipomoea'' that is used on a small scale by humans. The whitestar potato that it produces is traditionally consumed by a number of Native American tribes like the Chiricahua Apaches.

Other animals usually avoid eating ''Ipomoea'' due to the high alkaloid content which makes it unpalatable. In some cases the amount of alkaloid in the plant can make it toxic. However certain caterpillars are capable of digesting the plant.