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Pachyrhizus erosus
Fabaceae FAMILY

Pachyrhizus erosus

Pachyrhizus erosus

Edibility
4/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

Whilst the roots are edible (and often eaten in quantity) the upper portions of the plant, especially the seeds, mature seedpods and the leaves, contain a poisonous glucoside[1, 2, 3]. This glucoside is more toxic to cold-blooded creatures than it is to mammals, and the pounded plant is sometimes dropped in water in order to stupefy fish[4]. The mature seeds also contain a toxic resin[4].

Cultivation Details

HabitPerennial Climber
Growth—

Pachyrhizus erosus is tolerant of a wide range of climatic conditions but grows best in lowland tropical areas at elevations up to 1,000 metres and a moderate rainfall[5, 2]. The plant grows best in areas where the mean minimum temperature is about 20°c and the maximum is 30°c, though it can also succeed where they are 15 - 36°c[3]. It is found in areas with a distinct dry season, where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,300 - 1,700mm, but can tolerate 250 - 7,000mm[3]. Grows best in a sunny position[3]. Tolerates a wide range of soils, being found in the wild on deep clays to sandy loams[2]. Prefers a light, rich, well-drained, sandy soil[6, 2]. Dislikes water-logged soils[2]. The plant prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 8, but can tolerate 4.3 - 8[3]. Immature pods are ready for harvest about 200 - 240 days from sowing[3]. Tubers may be harvested after 150 - 270 days, before they become fibrous[3]. In warmer parts of Mexico with light, rich soil, mature tubers are commonly harvested after only 90 days[3]. Seed crops takes about 300 days to mature[3]. A short-day plant, it requires between 11 - 13 hours of daylight hours per day in order to initiate tuber production[PFAF], though vegetative growth is normal even in relatively long days of 14 - 15 hours[2]. When grown for its edible root the flowers and seedpods should be removed[6, 7]. There are some named forms[8]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[5].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in situ[2]. Division of the root tubers. Cuttings. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pachyrhizus+erosus>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]Tropical Food Gardens — Norrington. L. · Bloomings Books (Melbourne) · 2001 · ISBN 1-876473-41-x ↩︎Excellent little book giving some basic information on a range of plants.
  2. [2]Vegetables in the Tropics — Tindall. H. D. · MacMillan, Oxford. · 1983 · ISBN 0-333-24268-8 ↩︎An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants.
  3. [3]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
  4. [4]Philippine Medicinal Plants — http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html ↩︎A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
  5. [5]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  6. [6]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  7. [7]The Useful Plants of the Island of Guam — Safford W.E. · Smithsonian Institute; Washington. · 1905 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ ↩︎A very comprehensive, if rather dated, guide to the plants of Guam. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
  8. [8]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
  9. [9]Dictionary of Economic Plants. — Uphof. J. C. Th. · Weinheim · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
  10. [10]CosIng — http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/ ↩︎CosIng is the European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients.
  11. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎