Pachyrhizus ahipa
Pachyrhizus ahipa
Safety & Hazards
The seed and green parts of the plant contain an insecticide (probably rotenone) and might be poisonous to people[ 196 Title Lost Crops of the Incas Publication Author Popenoe. H. et al Publisher National Academy Press Year 1990 ISBN 0-309-04264-X Description An excellent book. Very readable, with lots of information and good pictures of some lesser known food plants of S. America. ].
Botanical Description
Pachyrhizus ahipa is an erect to twining, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock. Erect forms are generally 15 - 60cm tall, whilst twining forms can produce stems up to 200cm long that either scramble over the ground or climb into the surrounding vegetation[ 1553 Title Ahipa (Pachyrhizus ahipa (Wedd.) Parodi) in Bolivia Publication Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 43: 435-446,1996 Author Ørting B.; Grüneberg W.J. & Sörensen M. Publisher Year 1996 ISBN Description ] The plant is often cultivated for its edible root, which can be sold in local and national markets.