(Last Modified On 9/30/2013)
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(Last Modified On 9/30/2013)
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Genus
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PACHYRHIZUS Rich. ex DC
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Contributor
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W. G. D'Arcy
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PlaceOfPublication
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Prodr. 2: 402. 1825.
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Note
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TYPE: P. angulatus Rich. ex DC. = P. erosus (L.) Urb., nomen & typus cons. vs. Caraca Thou.
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Synonym
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Caraca Thou., Dict. Sci. Nat. 6: 35. 1805 [?1806]. Nomen rejic. vs. Pachyrhizus DC. Based on Dolichos bulbosus L. Taeniocarpum Desv., Ann. Sci. Nat. 9: 420. 1826. TYPE: T. articulatum (Lam.) Desv. = Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. Robynsia Mart. & Gal., Bull. Acad. Bruxelles 10(2): 193. 1843. non Drapiez 1841, nec Hutch. 1931. TYPE: R. macrophylla Mart. & Gal. = Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb.
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Description
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Twining annual or perennial vines; stems terete; roots tuberous. Leaves pin- nate trifoliolate; leaflets entire, lobed or deeply dissected, stipels subulate, stip- ules caducous, rachis and petioles with longitudinal ridges running onto the sti- pels. Inflorescences axillary pseudoracemes, the peduncle often longer than the petiole, the flowers somewhat congested apically; bracteoles subulate, shorter than and subtending the calyx; pedicels slender, slightly longer than the calyx. Flowers blue; calyx campanulate tubular, 2-lipped, the upper 2 teeth mostly con- nate, the lower teeth acute, shorter than the tube; standard emarginate with 2 basal incurved auricles, the wings auriculate, medially adherent to the keel, the keel equalling the wings; stamens diadelphous, the anthers 10, elliptical, dorsi- fixed; ovary subsessile, multiovulate, the style incurved, sometimes forming a circle, dorsally glabrous, bearded the full length of the ventral, incurved surface. Legume oblong, compressed, nearly straight, internally septate between the seeds; seeds globose, compressed.
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Habit
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vines
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Note
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Pachyrhizus is distinguished by its curved, ventrally pubescent style, often lobed leaves, flowers which are not resupinate, and tuberous roots. Although treated here as monotypic, Clausen (1946) adopted a narrow species concept and recognized six species and several varieties. The genus was widely cultivated in pre-Columbian times and ranges through- out the Neotropics, occurring mainly at lower and middle elevations. It has been introduced to the Old World and is naturalized there. The tubers of Pachyrhizus are cultivated for food in many tropical countries and the plants are sometimes cultivated for forage. The seeds are reported to be toxic.
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Distribution
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ranges through- out the Neotropics
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