White Jerusalem artichoke
Bomarea edulis

Family: Alstroemeriaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a climber that keeps growing from year to year. It grows 3 m tall. The stems are slender and supple. They are branching. The leaves are alternate and sword shaped. They are 5-18 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are pink and hang down. They have purple spots. The seeds are 5 mm long by 4 mm wide.

There are 100-200 Bomarea species. They are climbers in the Andes cloudforest in Central and South America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical America. It occurs at low altitudes. In Costa Rica it grows below 1,000 m altitude. It needs well drained soil. It does best with a night temperature above 10°C. It is damaged by drought and frost. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 3,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hispaniola, Mexico, North America, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The tubers are sweet and starchy and boiled then eaten. They are also used for the extraction of starch.

It is a cultivated plant. Tubers are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Root, tubers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from tubers. They are planted 15 cm deep. Plants can be grown from seed. Fresh seed will germinate in a few weeks.

Its other names

Local names

Cara-de-caboclo, Coyolxochitl

Synonyms

Alstroemeria edulis Tussac; Bomarea caldesii Asch. et Graebn.; Bomarea hirtella (Kunth.) Herb.;