Mauka, Chago
Mirabilis expansa

Family: Nyctaginaceae

What it is like

It is a low compact plant. It grows 1 m high. The collar of the stem swells and becomes the edible part. The shoots near the base branch and a dense group of leaves develop from this. The stems are cylinder shaped and they have nodes or rings along them. A pair of opposite laves grows from these joints. The leaves are oval or heart shaped and 3-8 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are leathery. They are reddish along the edges and veins. The flowers are on long slender stalks at the top. They are 3-6 cm long and covered with hairs. The stems and tubers are eaten. The stems are smooth and fleshy and 50 cm long by 5 cm wide.

There are about 50-60 Mirabilis species. There are 15 in tropical America. It is 7% protein.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In the Andes it grows between 1,000 and 2,500 m altitude. In Peru it grows in semi-humid regions between 2,300 and 3,500 m altitude. Here the average temperature is 13°C with the maximum temperature of 25°C and the minimum temperature of 5°C. It dies back after frost. They need deep soils with plenty of organic material. An annual rainfall of 680 mm is suitable.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andes, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, South America, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The tuberous root is eaten. It is eaten like tapioca/manioc. They are sun dried then boiled or fried also used in soups and stews. The leaves are eaten in salads and chilli sauces. It is also converted to a sweet by burying it in a pit where it is layered between layers of barley straw and the sugars become concentrated.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, tubers, vegetable

How it is grown

Shoots from near the base are used for planting. Pieces of stem or suckers can be used. Plants can also be grown from seed. Plants grown from shoots at the base can be harvested after one year. Suckers take longer. Plants are put in holes. They are spaced 1 m apart. Because plants are delicate earthing up around them must be done carefully.

Plants take 7-9 months to produce. They emerge after planting in 4-7 days and start to form tubers 36-45 days from planting. Flowers form about 100 days later. Plants are harvested about 95 days after flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Arricon, Cushipe, Chaco, Inca, Miso, Pega pega, Taso, Tasu, Yuca

Synonyms

Allionia expansa (Ruiz. & Pav. Kuntze; Calyxhymenia expansa Ruiz & Pav.; Oxybaphus expansus Vahl.;