Tuber: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:46, 9 February 2025

Species of plant

Ullucus tuberosus, commonly known as ulluco, is a plant species in the family Basellaceae. It is one of the most widely grown root crops in the Andean region of South America, particularly in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

Description

Ullucus tuberosus is a herbaceous plant that produces small, brightly colored tubers. The tubers are typically yellow, pink, or purple and have a waxy skin. The plant has a sprawling growth habit and can reach up to 50 cm in height. The leaves are heart-shaped and succulent, similar to those of Anredera cordifolia.

Cultivation

Ulluco is cultivated primarily for its tubers, which are an important food source in the Andean region. The plant is grown at high altitudes, typically between 2,000 and 4,000 meters above sea level. It is well adapted to the cool, moist conditions of the Andes and is often grown alongside other Andean crops such as potato (Solanum tuberosum), oca (Oxalis tuberosa), and mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum).

Uses

The tubers of Ullucus tuberosus are rich in carbohydrates and are a staple food in the Andean diet. They can be boiled, baked, or fried and are often used in soups and stews. The leaves of the plant are also edible and can be used as a leafy vegetable.

Nutritional value

Ulluco tubers are a good source of carbohydrates and contain small amounts of protein and dietary fiber. They are low in fat and provide essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and potassium.

Related species

Ullucus tuberosus is related to other tuber-producing plants such as the potato (Solanum tuberosum), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), and yam (Dioscorea spp.).

Related pages

Gallery

Ullucus tuberosus in South Peru
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Anredera cordifolia
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Young potato tuber
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Sweet potato
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Root vegetables
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World primary crops harvested area by commodity group

References

National Research Council (1989). Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.
Hermann, M. (1997). Andean Roots and Tubers: Ahipa, Arracacha, Maca and Yacon. Rome: International Plant Genetic Resources Institute.

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-'''Tuber'''
+{{short description|Species of plant}}
+{{Taxobox
+| name = Ullucus tuberosus
+| image = Ullucus_tuberosus_(South_Peru).jpg
+| image_caption = Ullucus tuberosus in South Peru
+| regnum = Plantae
+| unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
+| unranked_classis = Eudicots
+| unranked_ordo = Core eudicots
+| ordo = Caryophyllales
+| familia = Basellaceae
+| genus = ''Ullucus''
+| species = '''''U. tuberosus'''''
+| binomial = ''Ullucus tuberosus''
+| binomial_authority = Caldas
+}}
-A '''[[tuber]]''' is a type of modified, subterranean [[stem]] or [[root]] of a plant that is enlarged to store nutrients. It is used by plants to survive the winter or dry months and provides energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season. It also serves as a means of [[Asexual reproduction|asexual reproduction]].
+'''''Ullucus tuberosus''''', commonly known as ulluco, is a plant species in the family [[Basellaceae]]. It is one of the most widely grown root crops in the [[Andean region]] of [[South America]], particularly in [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]], and [[Ecuador]].
-== Structure and function ==
+==Description==
+''Ullucus tuberosus'' is a herbaceous plant that produces small, brightly colored tubers. The tubers are typically yellow, pink, or purple and have a waxy skin. The plant has a sprawling growth habit and can reach up to 50 cm in height. The leaves are heart-shaped and succulent, similar to those of [[Anredera cordifolia]].
-Tubers are characterized by their large size, compared to other structures such as [[bulb]]s and [[corm]]s. They have a rough skin that is typically brown or red. The interior is usually starchy and white or yellow. Tubers are formed from enlarged stolons or rhizomes and are typically found underground.
+==Cultivation==
+Ulluco is cultivated primarily for its tubers, which are an important food source in the Andean region. The plant is grown at high altitudes, typically between 2,000 and 4,000 meters above sea level. It is well adapted to the cool, moist conditions of the Andes and is often grown alongside other Andean crops such as [[potato]] (''[[Solanum tuberosum]]''), [[oca]] (''[[Oxalis tuberosa]]''), and [[mashua]] (''[[Tropaeolum tuberosum]]'').
-Tubers function as storage organs, containing reserves of nutrients that can be used by the plant when conditions are not favorable for growth. They also serve as a means of asexual reproduction, with each tuber capable of growing into a new plant.
+==Uses==
+The tubers of ''Ullucus tuberosus'' are rich in carbohydrates and are a staple food in the Andean diet. They can be boiled, baked, or fried and are often used in soups and stews. The leaves of the plant are also edible and can be used as a leafy vegetable.
-== Types of tubers ==
+==Nutritional value==
+Ulluco tubers are a good source of carbohydrates and contain small amounts of protein and dietary fiber. They are low in fat and provide essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and potassium.
-There are two types of tubers: stem and root tubers.
+==Related species==
+''Ullucus tuberosus'' is related to other tuber-producing plants such as the [[potato]] (''[[Solanum tuberosum]]''), [[sweet potato]] (''[[Ipomoea batatas]]''), and [[yam]] (''[[Dioscorea]]'' spp.).
-'''Stem tubers''' form from thickened rhizomes or stolons. The top sides of the tuber produce shoots that grow into typical stems and leaves, and the under sides produce roots. They tend to form at the sides of the parent plant and are most often located near the soil surface. The [[potato]] is a typical example of a stem tuber.
+==Related pages==
+* [[Potato]]
+* [[Sweet potato]]
+* [[Oca]]
+* [[Mashua]]
-'''Root tubers''', on the other hand, form from enlarged lateral roots or the end of a short, modified side branch. They generally start off as a normal root but then swell up. Root tubers are perennating organs, surviving winter and then resuming growth in the spring. An example of a root tuber is the [[sweet potato]].
+==Gallery==
+<gallery>
+File:Ullucus_tuberosus_(South_Peru).jpg|''Ullucus tuberosus'' in South Peru
+File:Starr_010725-9001_Anredera_cordifolia.jpg|''Anredera cordifolia''
+File:SolanumTuberosumYoungTuber.jpg|Young potato tuber
+File:Ipomoea_batatasL_ja01.jpg|Sweet potato
+File:Hem_Root.jpg|Root vegetables
+File:World_Primary_Crops_Harvested_Area_By_Commodity_Group.svg|World primary crops harvested area by commodity group
+</gallery>
-== Economic importance ==
+==References==
+* National Research Council (1989). ''Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation''. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.
+* Hermann, M. (1997). ''Andean Roots and Tubers: Ahipa, Arracacha, Maca and Yacon''. Rome: International Plant Genetic Resources Institute.
-Tubers are economically important as food crops. Some of the most commonly consumed tubers include potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, and taro. They are a significant source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber and are also rich in vitamin C, potassium, and other nutrients.
+[[Category:Root vegetables]]
+[[Category:Basellaceae]]
-== See also ==
+[[Category:Flora of the Andes]]
-* [[Bulb (botany)|Bulb]]
-* [[Corm]]
-* [[Rhizome]]
-* [[Stolon]]
-* [[Taproot]]
-[[Category:Plant anatomy]]
-[[Category:Plant reproduction]]
-[[Category:Botany]]
-[[Category:Agriculture]]
-{{stub}}