Wild jicama
Calopogonium caeruleum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A slightly woody vine or creeper. It keeps growing from year to year. It is twining with side branches. It grows 10 m long. The stems are slender and cylinder shaped. The leaves are alternate and have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are papery. They are 5-11 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. The end leaflets are wedge shaped and the side ones unequal at the base. The edges are wavy. The upper surface are dull green and lower leaves are pale green. The flowers are in groups 12-45 cm long with flowers in groups of 4 to 5. The pods are 3-8 cm long by 1 cm wide. They are flattened and squeezed between the seeds. The seeds are almost square and reddish-brown.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antilles, Argentina, Asia, Brazil, Central America, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Hispaniola, Indochina, Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, Trinidad, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The roots are used for starch.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cudzu criollo, Frijol boniato, Jicama cimarrona, Jicama de monte, Jiquima dulce, Lamdau lam

Synonyms

Calopogonum sericeum (Benth.) Chodat & Hassl.; Stenolobium caeruleum Benth.; and others