Tuber vegetables - Jicama
Jicama is a vine with edible tuberous root which can be eaten raw. After peeling the skin the tuberous roots look a bit like potato and have a watery but fresh taste.
Jicama has its origin in Mexico but is now common in the Philippines, China and other Southeast Asian countries.
The seeds of the plant are toxic as they contain rotenone, which is a pesticide used to kill insects and fish.
Names
Scientific
Pachyrhizus erosus
English
Jicama
Mexican turnip
Mexican yam
Yam bean
Dutch
Yamboon
Spanish
Jícama
Nabo mexicano
Pipilanga
French
Jícama
Pois patate
German
Benkuang
Yambohne
Thai
มันแกว
Taxonomy
Order
Fabales
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Pachyrhizus
Species
Pachyrhizus erosus (Jicama)
Crop categories
Botanical pesticides
Minor crops
Root vegetables
Subtropical crops
Tropical crops
Tuber vegetables
Vegetables
Pictures
Jicama
Tuberous roots of Jicama
Jicama