man-of-the-earth n 1: long-rooted morning glory of western United States [syn: {Ipomoea leptophylla}] 2: tropical American prostrate or climbing herbaceous perennial having an enormous starchy root; sometimes held to be source of the sweet potato [syn: {wild potato vine}, {wild sweet potato vine}, {manroot}, {scammonyroot}, {Ipomoea panurata}, {Ipomoea fastigiata}]