jicama

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mexican-potato
• potato-bean
• yam-bean
• Jicama
• yam bean

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Robynsia lobata
• Pachyrhizus palmatilobus
• Robynsia macrophylla
• Dolichos palmatilobus
• Pachyrhizus angulatus f. integrifolius
• Pachyrhizus strigosus
• Pachyrhizus jicamas
• Pachyrhizus articulatus
• Taeniocarpum articulatum
• Pachyrhizus erosus var. palmatilobus
• Cacara erosa
• Cacara palmatiloba
• Dolichos articulatus
• Dolichos erosus
• Pachyrhizus trilobus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Pachyrhizus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of the African continent and surrounding islands. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in both Cameroon and Gabon. Moving toward the eastern part of the continent, it can also be found in East Tropical Africa, specifically within Tanzania. The species extends into the Western Indian Ocean, where it inhabits the island of Mauritius. Finally, its range includes the large island of Madagascar located within the same ocean region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pachyrhizus erosus is characterized by its adaptability to human-altered landscapes, frequently establishing itself within Área Antrópica (anthropic areas). This tendency to thrive in environments modified by human activity, such as cultivated fields, gardens, and disturbed soils, allows the species to expand its range through anthropogenic movement and land use. In these settings, the plant benefits from soil disturbance and nutrient cycling associated with agricultural practices, often utilizing cleared land to facilitate its climbing growth habit. This ecological preference for human-influenced habitats suggests a high degree of resilience and the ability to exploit disturbed ecological niches where competition from stable forest vegetation is reduced.

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Pachyrhizus erosus are characterized by specific karyotypic variations that contribute to its biological complexity. Scientific analysis of its chromosomal makeup reveals a distinct variability in the chromosome number, with observed counts of 20 and 22. This variation in ploidy or chromosomal arrangement plays a significant role in the genetic architecture of the species, potentially influencing its morphological traits and adaptability. Such genomic nuances are central to understanding the evolutionary lineage and the reproductive mechanisms inherent to this plant.

Chromosome number :

20, 22

Life history

The life history of Pachyrhizus erosus is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and ecological classification, the plant is identified as a chamaephyte, a life form where the permanent shoots are located close to the soil surface. This specific growth strategy, categorized under both chamaephyte classifications, enables the plant to navigate its environment effectively by maintaining its vital parts at a low profile, contributing to its overall survival and developmental patterns throughout its life cycle.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pachyrhizus erosus is characterized by its growth as a non-woody, herbaceous forb that functions as an obligatory climbing vine. Reaching a significant plant height with a mean of approximately 6 m, the species exhibits a liana-like habit used to ascend surrounding structures. As a terrestrial plant, it grows independently without any parasitic relationship to its hosts, and it is strictly non-epiphytic, maintaining a terrestrial existence rather than living as a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pachyrhizus erosus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's foliar morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf dimensions ranging from a minimum length of 3 cm to a maximum length of 18 cm, and a corresponding width that varies from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. Furthermore, the species functions as a nitrogen fixer, a physiological trait that allows it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, thereby enhancing its nutrient uptake and supporting its growth in nitrogen-limited environments.

Leaf length max:

18 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

20 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pachyrhizus erosus is characterized by the development of a dehiscent pod-type fruit that serves as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. These pods exhibit significant morphological variation, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 7.5 cm up to a maximum of 14 cm, and widths spanning from 1 cm to 1.8 cm. Within these pods, the seeds possess distinct dimensions, featuring a minimum length of 8 mm and a maximum length of 10 mm, while their width ranges between a minimum of 7 mm and a maximum of 10 mm. The seed mass is also variable, with individual seeds weighing as little as 0.2 g, reaching a maximum of 0.763 g, and maintaining a mean mass of approximately 0.4815 g. As a dehiscent fruit, the pod eventually splits open to release these seeds, facilitating the plant's reproductive cycle.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Fruit length max:

14 cm

Fruit length min:

7.5 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

1.8 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Seed length max:

10 mm

Seed length min:

8 mm

Seed mass max:

0.763 g

Seed mass mean:

0.4815 g

Seed mass min:

0.2 g

Seed width max:

10 mm

Seed width min:

7 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pachyrhizus erosus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
2. Planta medica

Chemicals

Pachyrhizus erosus has 58 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, FAT, methionine, 12-alpha-Hydroxyrotenone, Arachidic acid.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

FAT

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

methionine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

12-alpha-Hydroxyrotenone

1. Dr. Duke

Arachidic acid

1. Dr. Duke

CA

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Dehydroneotenone

1. Dr. Duke

Dolichone

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Pachyrhizus erosus has 338 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Absorbent, Acaricide, Acidulant, Adjuvant.

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adjuvant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Pachyrhizus erosus has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include adiposity, hyperinsulinemia, inflammation, insulin resistance, metabolic diseases.

Adiposity

1. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

Hyperinsulinemia

1. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

Inflammation

1. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

Insulin resistance

1. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

Metabolic diseases

1. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

Oxidative stress

1. Research in pharmaceutical sciences