Pueraria tuberosa
Pueraria tuberosa
Safety & Hazards
Although this species is reported to have an edible root, there are said to be certain forms of the plant where the root is not considered to be edible and is instead used as a fish poison[ 1577 Title Revision of the Genus Pueraria DC., with some notes on Teyleria Backer Publication Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 85-1, 1985 Author Ven der Maesen L.J.G. Publisher Agricultural University,Wageningen,theNetherlands Year 1985 ISBN 90-6754-066-8 Description ].
Botanical Description
Pueraria tuberosa is a vigorous climbing shrub growing from a large, tuberous rootstock - the tubers can weigh up to 35 kilos and are often produced in strings connected to the main roots by thin roots. Strong, twining stems up to 12mm in diameter and many metres long are produced, these scramble over the ground and climb into the surrounding vegetation[ 1577 Title Revision of the Genus Pueraria DC., with some notes on Teyleria Backer Publication Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 85-1, 1985 Author Ven der Maesen L.J.G. Publisher Agricultural University,Wageningen,theNetherlands Year 1985 ISBN 90-6754-066-8 Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. The dried roots are sometimes sold in local markets for medicinal purposes[ 1577 Title Revision of the Genus Pueraria DC., with some notes on Teyleria Backer Publication Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 85-1, 1985 Author Ven der Maesen L.J.G. Publisher Agricultural University,Wageningen,theNetherlands Year 1985 ISBN 90-6754-066-8 Description ]. The plant is sometimes used in soil stabilization projects.