iNaturalist · cc-by-nc (c) Jean-François Olivier, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc (c) Mark Nofsinger, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc (c) mvvklaus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Tuber, Seeds - coffee
The tuber is eaten and the seeds are dried, roasted, and ground to make a coffee-like drink.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. In NE Queensland it grows from sea level to 300 m above sea level.
Africa, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Central Africa, Congo DR, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, India, Mascarenes, Myanmar, Pacific, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, Sri Lanka, West Indies,
A creeper or woody vine. It can be climbing and twining. It grows 10-15 m long. It has milky sap. The stems are thick and cylinder shaped. The leaves are alternate and the blades are simple. They are 7-12 cm long by 6-11 cm long. They have 7 lobes arranged like fingers on a hand. The flower is yellow. The fruit are oval capsules. They are 1.5-2.5 cm long. There are 4 seeds in each fruit.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings.
Propagation: Seed - it can remain viable in the soil for many years.
Medicinal Uses
The tuber is used as a drastic purgative.
The plant has hallucinogenic properties.
