Pachyrhizus erosus
Pachyrhizus erosus
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[ 296 Title Tropical Food Gardens Publication Author Norrington. L. Publisher Bloomings Books (Melbourne) Year 2001 ISBN 1-876473-41-x Description Excellent little book giving some basic information on a range of plants. , 300 Title Vegetables in the Tropics Publication Author Tindall. H. D. Publisher MacMillan, Oxford. Year 1983 ISBN 0-333-24268-8 Description An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants. , 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. 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[ 360 Title Philippine Medicinal Plants Publication Author Website http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description 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. ]. The mature seeds also contain a toxic resin[ 360 Title Philippine Medicinal Plants Publication Author Website http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description 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. ].
Botanical Description
Pachyrhizus erosus is a perennial climbing or trailing plant producing annual, twining stems 2 - 6 metres long from a tuberous rootstock[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. The plant is often cultivated for its edible root and seedpods in tropical areas[ 46 Title Dictionary of Economic Plants. Publication Author Uphof. J. C. Th. Publisher Weinheim Year 1959 ISBN - Description 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. , 300 Title Vegetables in the Tropics Publication Author Tindall. H. D. Publisher MacMillan, Oxford. Year 1983 ISBN 0-333-24268-8 Description An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants. ]. It also has a range of local medicinal applications and can be used as a pesticide. It is sometimes grown as a green manure.