Smallanthus fruticosus
(Benth.) H. Rob.
Jicama
AsteraceaeRoots
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(c) Damon Tighe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Damon Tighe
(c) Damon Tighe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Damon Tighe
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Jose Granizo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Jose Granizo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Jose Granizo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Jose Granizo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Tubers, Root
The tubers are edible and become sweet when exposed to the sun.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It grows between 2,500-4,000 m above sea level in the Andes.
Ecuador*, South America,
How to Identify
A hairy shrub. It has tubers. The leaves are opposite. The leaf stalks have wings. The flowers are yellow and in heads. The fruit is thick and dry.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Smallanthus fruticosus is a species of shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the Andes (from Colombia to Bolivia). S. fruticosus contains the cytotoxic flavone centaureidin and the flavanone sakuranetin.
Other Information
It is a cultivated plant.
Names & Synonyms
Colla
Polymnia arborea HieronPolymnia fruticosa Benth.Smallanthus fruticosa (Benth.) H. Rob.
References (1)
- Quintana, C. M., 2010, Wild Plants in the Dry Valleys Around Quito Ecuador. An Illustrated Guide. Publicationes del Harbario, QCA p 75
