Kudzu, Japanese arrowroot
Pueraria montana var. lobata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A slow growing climbing legume with a thickened edible tuber. It has a thick stem which is hairy at the base. The stem can be 2.5 cm across. It can climb to 20 m high. The leaves are hairy and divided into 3 leaflets. They are oval or diamond shaped and they have lobes. The middle leaflet is the largest. The side leaflets are not equal on both sides of the main vein. The leaflets are 10-18 cm long by 8-15 cm wide. The leaves taper towards the tip. The leaf stalk is 20 cm long. The flowers are pea like and purple. They are 2 cm long and produced in upright stalks. The clusters along the stalks are 25-40 cm long. The fruit are oblong pods 9 cm long and 1 cm wide. They are covered with dense rusty hairs. The tuber is shaped like a cassava root. It can be 60-90 cm long.

The tubers contain 27% starch. Chemical composition (peeled root): Protein = 2.13%. Fat = 0.1%. Carbohydrate = 27.1%. Ash = 1.45%. Probably now Pueraria montana var lobata. It has a chemical that reduces craving for alcohol.

Where it is found

A temperate to subtropical plant. Wild forms grow between 30 and 1860 m in the tropics. Cultivated forms are more common in high altitude areas up to 2700 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. It grows in grassland and on the edge of forests. It suits hardiness zones 5-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Chuuk, Cuba, East Timor, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Russia, Samoa, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Torres Strait, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The root tuber is cooked and eaten. A kind of flour can also be made from the roots. This is processed into a thickener for sauces. The leaves, shoots and flowers can be used as a vegetable. In India the seeds are boiled and kept in a closed container for about seven days and then allowed to decompose. A drink is made from it.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. A minor root crop in Papua New Guinea. It is used as a reserve food and for ceremonies.

Edible parts

Roots, leaves, flowers, vegetable

How it is grown

It is normally grown by stem cuttings. It grows slowly. Plants also grow self sown from seed.

The time to maturity is 2-3 years. A tuberous root can be 35 kg weight.

Its other names

Local names

Aka fala, Baai, Ban kumsa, Bitok, Chik, Chikdeongkul, Chil, Chilgi, Cu nang, Deday, Gegen, Goruma, Horon, Inoka, Kopitu, Koudzou, Oka moi, Owitu, Qari yaka, Same, Tahaunon, Tamyakhura, Tebi, Tobi, Wa yaka

Synonyms

Dolichos hirsutus Thunb.; Dolichos lobatus Willd.; Neustanthus chinensis Benth.; Pachyrhizus thunbergianus Siebold & Zucc.; Pueraria argyi Leveille & Vaniot; Pueraria bodinieri Leveille & Vaniot; Pueraria caerulea Leveille & Vaniot; Pueraria hirsuta (Thunb.) Matsum., nom. illeg.; Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi; Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi subsp. lobata; Pueraria lobata var. chinensis (Benth.) Ohwi; Pueraria novo-guineensis Warb.; Pueraria pseudo-hirsuta Tang & Wang; Pueraria thunbergiana (Siebold & Zucc.) Benth; Pueraria triloba (Houtt.) T. Makino;