Bush potato, Chinese eriosema
Eriosema chinense
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
An erect small shrub. It grows to 50-90 cm high. The rootstock is tuberous and woody. It has a hairy covering of slightly curved grey hairs close to the plant with more brown and longer hairs spreading out. These last ones are 2.5 mm long. The leaves have one leaflet. These are narrow and oval. They are 2-8 cm long by 0.7-1.8 cm wide. There are a few hairs on the top surface of the leaf and it is very hairy underneath. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. They are 0.7 cm long. The fruit is a pod which does not have a stalk. It is oblong and about 1 cm long by 0.6 cm wide. It turns black eventually. The seeds are mottled brown and green. They are oblong and 4-5 mm long by 2.5 mm wide.
Also as Papilionaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It mostly grows in drier grassland areas. It can grow in open forest and wet locations. In Papua New Guinea it grows from 10-750 m altitude. In Asia it grows to 2000 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The root tubers are eaten raw or cooked.
Edible parts
Roots, tubers
How it is grown
In Australia the plant flowers December to January and produces seeds from January to June.
Its other names
Local names
Daj kuab tang, Gumbia, Haeo-dam, Haeo-pradu, Haew-pradu, Katil, Kh'o:nz ko:ng, Kitkitil, Kondan, Konden, Kutil, Man-chang, Maotu trungquoc, Mi-keoni, Mukumalak, Pen, Pike-san-gale, Pirlumataka, Rungi, Soh-pen, Te:l tueng, Te:l, Tel, Tii si go po, Til tueng, Wakajini