Skip to main content
UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences logo
Give      University of Florida
Resources
Toggle Search Form
GIVE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
  • HOME
  • Forest Ecology Contest
    • Contest Stations
    • Past Winners
    • About the Contest
  • Nature Poetry Contest
  • 4-H Forest Resources

  • Resources

Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

air potato plant
‹
›
  • florida4h.ifas.ufl.edu
  • Florida 4-H Forest Ecology
  • Forest Ecology Contest
  • Contest Stations
  • Plants of Florida
  • Air Potato
  • Identifying Characteristics

Air Potato: Identifying Characteristics

Habitat:
Air potato grows aggressively in a variety of habitats, from pine flatwoods to hardwood hammocks, forest edges and roadsides. It will grow in both disturbed and undisturbed soils.

Size/Form:
The plant is a twining, deciduous vine that grows 60 - 70' long. It branches out in all directions as it grows and it produces aerial tubers, or bulbils, which appear along the stem and have a potato-like appearance. The bulbils generally range from marble-sized to tennis-ball-sized, but they can occasionally be much larger. When freezing weather in the wintertime kills the above-ground portion of the plant, the bulbils drop to the ground where they eventually sprout in the springtime to form new vines.

Leaves:
The leaves are large, about 8" long, simple and alternately-arranged. They are broadly heart-shaped (cordate) and have rounded leaf bases and long petioles. The leaves have obvious, deep venation (rugose veins). The leaf margin is smooth.

Flowers:
Flowers are rare, appearing in panicles or spikes to 4 in long.

Fruit:
The fruit, which is also rare, is a small capsule, with partially-winged seeds.


Section Topics

  • Identifying Characteristics
  • Images
  • Learn More
University of Florida Logo
Contact

Feedback
Florida 4-H Forest Ecology
P.O. Box 110410 Gainesville, FL 32611-0410
(352) 846-0547

Land Grant Mission
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Extension
Information
  • Ask IFAS (EDIS)
  • UF/IFAS Experts
  • UF/IFAS Blogs
  • UF/IFAS Bookstore
Policy
  • Accessible UF
  • EEO Statement
  • IFAS Web Policy
  • SSN & UF Privacy
  • Analytics (Google Privacy)

© 2025 University of Florida, IFAS Last Modified:Wed, 16 Jun 2021 12:24:47 EDT