noun
sweet-potato vines
Refers to the vines of the sweet potato plant. Also used in the idiom 芋づる式に (like pulling up sweet-potato vines), meaning one after another or in succession.
畑の芋づるが伸び放題になっている。
The sweet-potato vines in the field have grown wild.
芋づる式に犯人が次々と捕まった。
The criminals were caught one after another, like pulling up sweet-potato vines.
Compound of 芋 (いも, sweet potato) and 蔓 (つる, vine), with rendaku voicing of つる to づる.