It is a twining plant of woodland verges and rough places with heart-shaped leaves and funnel-shaped white flowers with a pinkish throat.

[4] The native range is the southern and eastern parts of the United States, extending northwards into Ontario in Canada.

[1] Habitats include upland woods, the edges of prairies bordering woodlands, thickets, rocky gullies and stream-sides, disturbed ground, and railway and highway verges.

The larvae of the latter two beetles feed on the swollen tuberous roots, while the larvae of the sweet potato leaf miner moth (Bedellia somnulentella), the morning-glory plume moth (Emmelina monodactyla) and the sweetpotato hornworm (Agrius cingulata) feed on the foliage.

[6] This can be roasted and eaten, resembling a sweet potato, young specimens being best as older tubers may be bitter.