Plukenetia volubilis
L.
Euphorbiaceae
Fragariopsis paxii Pittier
Plukenetia macrostyla Ule
Plukenetia peruviana Müll.Arg.
Sajorium volubile (L.) Baill.
Common Name:
Experimental cultivation of the plant at INIEA station, Pucallpa, Ucayali, Peru.
Photograph by: Michael Hermann
General Information
Plukenetia volubilis is a slender climbing shrub, scrambling over the ground and twining into other plants for support.
The edible seeds and leaves are gathered from the wild for local use. This species has long been used by native people, but has only recently become better known and is now being cultivated for the high quality oil obtained from the seed.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
674- Title
- A Contribution to the Guianan Flora: Dalechampia, Haematostemon, Omphalea, Pera, Plukenetia and Tragia (Euphorbiacea
- Publication
- Smithsonian Contributions to Botany No. 86
- Author
- Gillespie L.J. & Armbruster W.S.
- Website
- http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 97-10535
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of papers by the Smithsonian Institute, it can be downloaded from their website.
Range
S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Surinam; Caribbean - Windward Isles.
Habitat
Occurs in disturbed areas or forest edges of lowland moist or wet forest, at elevations below 900 metres[
674- Title
- A Contribution to the Guianan Flora: Dalechampia, Haematostemon, Omphalea, Pera, Plukenetia and Tragia (Euphorbiacea
- Publication
- Smithsonian Contributions to Botany No. 86
- Author
- Gillespie L.J. & Armbruster W.S.
- Website
- http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 97-10535
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of papers by the Smithsonian Institute, it can be downloaded from their website.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Climber |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Cultivated plants frequently have larger, 5 - 6 carpelled fruits and more prominently serrate leaf margins[
674- Title
- A Contribution to the Guianan Flora: Dalechampia, Haematostemon, Omphalea, Pera, Plukenetia and Tragia (Euphorbiacea
- Publication
- Smithsonian Contributions to Botany No. 86
- Author
- Gillespie L.J. & Armbruster W.S.
- Website
- http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 97-10535
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of papers by the Smithsonian Institute, it can be downloaded from their website.
].
Edible Uses
Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Seeds - roasted[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
674- Title
- A Contribution to the Guianan Flora: Dalechampia, Haematostemon, Omphalea, Pera, Plukenetia and Tragia (Euphorbiacea
- Publication
- Smithsonian Contributions to Botany No. 86
- Author
- Gillespie L.J. & Armbruster W.S.
- Website
- http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 97-10535
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of papers by the Smithsonian Institute, it can be downloaded from their website.
]. An excellent flavour[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. Rich in oil (35 - 60%) and protein (27%).
An oil is extracted from the seed. It is used in the preparation of various meals.
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The oil from the seed is of high quality and can be used for cosmetics etc.
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
