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Common Name: Jalap

General Information

Ipomoea jalapa is a Evergreen Climber up to 3.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - Mexico.

Habitat

Woodland on the eastern slopes of the Mexican Andes.

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained humus-rich soil in a sunny position[].
This species is not very frost tolerant[], though it might be possible to grow it outdoors in a very sheltered position in the mildest areas of Britain.
Either cut the plant back or thin out the shoots in the spring[].
218245

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The tuber is a resinous acrid herb with an unpleasant taste that is often used as a purgative[]. It is taken internally in the treatment of constipation, colic and intestinal parasites[]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse.
Semi-ripe cuttings in the summer.