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Useful Tropical Plants

Macroptilium gibbosifolium

(Ortega) A.Delgado

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Macroptilium heterophyllum (Willd.) Marechal & Baudet

Phaseolus bilobatus Engelm.

Phaseolus fraternus Piper

Phaseolus gibbosifolius Ortega

Phaseolus heterophyllus Willd.

Phaseolus macropoides A.Gray

Phaseolus macropus Benth.

Phaseolus micranthus M.Martens & Galeotti

Phaseolus parviflorus Schltdl.

Phaseolus rotundifolius A.Gray

Phaseolus seleri Harms

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Macroptilium gibbosifolium is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial climbing plant, growing from a fleshy, turnip-shaped root 15 - 35mm in diameter. The twining stem sprawls over the ground, climbing into other plants for support[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/

Range

S. America - Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru; C. America - Honduras and Guatemala, north through Mexico to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas.

Habitat

Open grassland,; at elevations from 1,500 - 2,200 metres[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
HabitPerennial Climber
Height0.30 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Roots - raw[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-06. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Macroptilium+gibbosifolium>

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