Bromelia laciniosa

Family: Bromeliaceae

What it is like

A herb. It has suckers around it.

Chemical composition: moisture = 0.5%; starch = 63.10%; sugars = 4.36%; proteins = 5.14%; minerals = 4.27%; crude fibres, etc.[sic] = 13.63%; ash (Si02: (0.80% in flour); CaO = 38.1% (1.62% in flour; Fe2O3 = 0.7% (0.03% in flour). Thiamine = 168 mcg per 100g. No riboflavin. Attention is directed to the extraordinary calcium content - the highest of any known plant species - corresponding to 15x the amount for milk and 3x the amount for cheese. There are 51 Bromelia species. They grow in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can grow in arid places. It can survive drought.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Brazil, East Africa, Mozambique, South America

How it is used for food

The bulbs are cooked then sun-dried. The bulb is then pulverised and reduced to a flour.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Bulb, roots, leaves

How it is grown

Seeds need light to germinate. Seeds germinate better if soaked in acetone for 60 minutes.

Its other names

Local names

Macambira

Synonyms

Agallostachys laciniosus (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) K. Koch;