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

    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