Definition

Noun: 1. A tropical American prostrate or climbing herbaceous perennial vine (Ipomoea pandurata) known for having an enormous starchy root. It is sometimes considered a source of the sweet potato. 2. A common name for a morning glory plant with a large, deep root, native to the eastern and central United States.

Usage Notes

• "Man-of-the-earth" is a common name for a specific plant species. It is used in botanical and gardening contexts.
• It is typically treated as a singular noun. The plural form is "men-of-the-earth."
• This term is more common in regional and historical descriptions than in modern scientific classification.

Examples

• The man-of-the-earth is known for its large, tuberous root that can resemble a sweet potato.
• We found a man-of-the-earth vine climbing along the old fence.
• Early settlers sometimes used the root of the man-of-the-earth as a food source.

Advanced Usage

• The name "man-of-the-earth" poetically references the plant's large, human-sized or substantial root that grows in the ground.

Variants and Related Words

• Wild potato vine: Another common name for the same plant (), referring to its root.
• Big-root morning glory: A descriptive name highlighting the plant's characteristic large root.
• Ipomoea pandurata: The scientific (Latin) name for the species.

Synonyms

• Wild potato vine
• Big-root morning glory
• Indian potato (Note: This name can refer to other plants as well)

Different Meanings

• The term "man of the earth" (without hyphens) can be a descriptive phrase for a person who is humble, practical, and closely connected to the land or farming. This is distinct from the hyphenated plant name "man-of-the-earth."
  • Example: He was a simple man of the earth, who preferred his farm to the city.

Noun

1. tropical American prostrate or climbing herbaceous perennial having an enormous starchy root; sometimes held to be source of the sweet potato
2. a morning glory with long roots of western United States