Convolvulaceae

=Convolvulaceae, Ipomoea Batatas, "Sweet Caroline Purple"=

__Origin__
The Ipomoea Batatas, which we commonly know as the 'sweet potato', originated in South America around 5000 years ago. Scientist believe that it was originally spread from the as far north as Mexico all the way down to Venezuela. It later migrated out to the Caribbean. The theory that is most widely accepted is that it was spread by the South Americans through vine cutting, because it is highly unlikely the seeds could have successfully floated across the ocean. Sweet potatoes are now cultivated around the world where ever there is sufficient rainfall and warm enough weather.

__Cultural Significance__
The majority of the world's sweet potatoes come from China producing 80% of the world's sweet potato crop. About half of their sweet potato crop is used to feed livestock. About 27,000,000 tons are grown a year. In certain area's sweet potatoes are a staple of human consumption. The most prevalent area where this is true is Papa New Guinea where sweet potatoes are a treasured crop good which their diet depends on. Sweet Potatoes are popular plant due to their reliability in tropical regions where there are typically typhoons. Sweet potatoes are crucial to many cultures cuisine including those of Asia, Africa, and North America. In Africa, along with the roots, they also eat the small leaves and vine tips.

__Cultivation in the US__
It just so happens that North Carolina is the leading US state in cultivation of sweet potatoes. NC farmers grow 38.5% of the US's sweet potatoes. California, Louisanna, and Mississippi are also leading cultivators within the US. It is actually a $19 million dollar business in Mississippi. The National Sweet Potato Festival is held in Vardamen, Mississippi, which is the self proclaimed "Sweet Potato Capital." The sweet potato plant cannot survive in frost which limits areas that it can be grown within the US. It grows best at an average temperature of 75 degrees. The roots typically mature in 2-9 months time. Since sweet potato plants are cultivated by vine cutting instead of through the seeds, they are relatively easy to grow.

__What we can learn about the culture__
Since sweet potatoes are cultivated in so many areas of the world, there are many ways you could incorporate into a lesson on culture. I actually learned quite a bit about the sweet potato plant and its importance in Papa New Guinea through my anthropology class. It is a staple of the culture, and it would be very interesting for students to investigate trade and culture in Papa New Guinea through the Sweet Potato. Another way to incorporate the sweet potato plant in the classroom would be as an opening to a lesson on the economy in China, the world's leading producer of sweet potatoes. Since they produce 80% of the world's 27,000,000 tons of sweet potatoes, they obviously help build up their economy. I would also connect this to the economy of North Carolina and our farmers since we are the US's leading producer of sweet potatoes. We could compare our climate with the of China and determine reasons why we are both so successful producers of sweet potatoes.