Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) is a member of the Convolvulaceae (Morning glory) family and the same genus as the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). Water spinach is an herbaceous aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial plant of the tropics and subtropics. It has a creeping growth habit but may grow erect in water. There are two major cultivars of water spinach. Ching Quat, also known as “green stem” water spinach, has narrow leaves and white flowers and is usually grown in moist soils. Pak Quat, also known as “white stem” water spinach, has arrow-shaped leaves and pink flowers and is grown in aquatic conditions, similar to rice.