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Useful Temperate Plants

Pachyrhizus ahipa

(Wedd.) Parodi

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Dolichos ahipa Wedd.

Common Name: Ahipa

Pachyrhizus ahipa
Seeds
Photograph by: Tracey Slotta @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Public domain

General Information

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.

Known 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 References

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
 

Range

S. America - Argentina, Bolivia and Peru.

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.50 m
PollinatorsInsects, Self
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusCultivated

Cultivation Details

Pachyrhizus ahipa succeeds in tropical to subtropical climates, the plant can be found at elevations from sea level to 3,000 metre[
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.
]s. At the higher elevations, plants can experience a diurnal temperature range that can fall to 0°c at night and rie to 35°c in the day[
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
 
]. It grows best in areas where the mean temperature ranges from a minimum of 12°c to a maximum of 22°c, though it can tolerate 10 - 30°c[
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.
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 800 - 1,200mm, though it will tolerate 750 - 1,250mm with a dry season of up to 8 months[418[
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
 
]].
Grows best in a sunny position[
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.
]. Prefers a fertile, well-drained, sandy to loamy soil[
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.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, though it can tolerate 5 - 8[
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 drought tolerant, but good tuber production requires moist growing conditions[
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
 
].
This species is generally considered to be daylength-neutral, making it suitable for growing in areas outside the tropics so long as the growing season is long enough[
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.
,
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
 
]. It has produced good yields when grown in a greenhouse in Denmark[
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.
].
The plant begins flowering about 75 days after planting and harvest takes place after 150 - 180 days[
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.
,
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.
].
Unless being grown for seed production, plants are normally prevented from flowering since this increases tuber size[
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
 
].
Annual yields at moderate elevations in the Bolivian Andes can be 8 - 30 tonnes per hectare[
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
 
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

Root - raw or cooked[
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.
]. Thirst quenching and nutritious with an easily digested starch[
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.
]. The root is slow to discolour and remains crisp after slicing so it is often used in green and in fruit salads[
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.
]. Often treated more as a fruit than a root crop, it can be eaten as a refreshing snack and can also be crushed and made into a pleasant-tasting juice[
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 turnip-shaped root can be 6 - 8cm in diameter and 10 - 15cm long, each root weighing between 500 - 1,500g at harvest[
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
 
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The plant contains rotenone, the active ingredient in the insecticide 'derris', and it has the potential to be used as an insecticide[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Derris is a relatively safe insecticide in that it does not affect warm-blooded animals and also breaks down into harmless substances with 24 hours of being used. It does, however, kill some beneficial insects and is also toxic to fish and amphibians[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in early spring in a warm greenhouse. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots of rich soil and grow them on fast. Plant them out after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection, such as a cloche, until they are growing away well.
Division of the root tubers in the autumn. Store the roots in a cool but frost-free place over the winter, planting them into pots in the greenhouse in early spring and planting them out after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection, such as a cloche, until they are growing away well.
Cuttings.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Pachyrhizus+ahipa>

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