Alstroemeriaceae FAMILY

Bomarea edulis

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

The fresh sap of this plant can cause skin rashes in some people. The plant contains small quantities (up to 0.2%) of the compound tuliposide A, which probably hydrolizes on the skin to form the allergenic lactone tulipalin A. People who are allergic to the sap of tulips are very likely to also be sensitive to the sap of this plant[ 65 Title A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. Publisher Wolfe Year 1984 ISBN 0723408394 Description Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far. , 407 Title BoDD (Botanical Dermatology Database) Publication Author Website http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Brief notes on a very wide range of plants that have reports of causing harm to the skin. ].

Botanical Description

Bomarea edulis is a perennial climbing plant producing annual twining stems that can grow 2 - 6metres long from a tuberous rootstock[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use as a food, whilst the edible roots are also sold in local markets. The plant is often grown as an ornamental plant in warm temperate to tropical gardens.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeS. America - Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, north to the Caribbean and through Central America to Mexico.

HabitatFound in mountains, in oak woodlands to tropical woodlands. Disturbed areas and forests; at elevations from sea level to 3,000 metres. Damp or wet forests or thickets; usually at elevations from 800 - 3,000 metres in Guatemala[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].