Ipomoea bathycolpos, an erect start

New growth of Ipomoea bathycolpos may be erect as in the photo for a short time only. Soon gravity will convince it of a better way to accommodate stems as long and leafy as its nature allows. The spaced, opposite leaf pairs will grow one too many and down she goes; especially when the wind blows and unless some extraordinaly gifted snake charmer steps in.

The leaf-shape is distinctive: Deeply heart-shaped at the base, the entire margins taper to the usually acutely pointed tip. There is a distinct, pale midrib and some slight folding in along it. A few pairs of incurving lateral veins are visible upon the sometimes wavy surface. Leaf texture is slightly fleshy and smooth or sparsely hairy. Leaf colour is dark green, not as dark when young, or on the lower surface (Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; iSpot).