Common Name: Olluco

General Information

Ullucus tuberosus is an erect, compact perennial plant reaching a height of 20 - 50cm[].
The plant is a traditional crop of the higher Andes, where it is still often cultivated for its edible tubers[, , , ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Peru, Bolivia.

Habitat

Not known in the wild

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

A plant of the high Andes of S. America, where it is found at elevations from 2,000 - 4,000 metres[, , , ]. It can also be grown at lower elevations in the temperate zone[]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperatures fall within the range 12 - 20°c, but can tolerate 5 - 28°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,100 - 1,400mm, tolerating 800 - 1,800mm[].
Prefers a rich light soil with plenty of leaf mould[, , ]. Produces reasonable yields in marginal soils[]. Established plants are moderately drought tolerant[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 6.5, but can tolerate 5 - 7[, ].
The plant is normally grown as an annual, the growing cycle may be as short as 150 days, but 180 - 240 days is more common, and at high elevations 270 days or more is the norm[].
Daylengths of 10 - 13.5 hours are normally needed for tuber production, but there may, however, be daylength-neutral types[].
Average yields are 5 - 9 tonnes per hectare but there is a lot of potential to increase this[]
Earthing up the stems as tubers form in late summer can improve yields[].
There are some named varieties[].
Slugs are very fond of this plant and will soon completely destroy it if given a chance[].
Plants do not usually produce fertile seed but researchers in Finland have obtained seed under controlled circumstances[].

Edible Uses

Tuber - cooked[, ]. Starchy and mucilaginous[, , , , ]. The tubers can be up to 8cm long[]. Ulluco is a staple food in South America, being used in most of the ways that potatoes are used, indeed when boiled and fried they taste very much like potatoes[]. In the Andes a popular dish called 'chuño' is made by alternately freezing and drying the tubers[]. The tuber shapes vary from spherical to cylindrical and colours range from white, light green, pink and orange to purple[]. Some varieties contain mucilage and need to be pre-boiled before using[]. The tubers contain about 14% carbohydrate, 1 - 2% protein, almost no fat or fibre[]. They are fairly rich in vitamin C, about 23mg per 100g fresh weight[]. The tubers store well and will last up to 12 months in cool conditions[].

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , ]. Used to prepare soups[]. Mucilaginous and not that exciting[]. They contain about 12% protein dry weight[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the whole plant is taken as an expectorant and aid in childbirth[].

The tuber is used to facilitate childbirth[].

The fruit is used to treat toothache[]. (The fruit is rarely produced[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Division of tubers.
Cuttings. Very easy[]. The stem only needs one leaf node to enable it to root [].

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