Food Plants International

37
Names
English: Kudzu, Scientific name: Pueraria lobata var. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Pueraria novo-guineensis Warb.
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae
Description: A slow growing climbing legume with a
thickened edible tuber. It has a thick stem that is hairy
at the base. The stem can be 2.5 cm across. It can
climb to 20 m high. The leaves are hairy and divided
into 3 leafets. They are oval or diamond shaped and
they have lobes. The middle leaflet is the largest. The
side leaflets are not equal on both sides of the main
vein. The leaflets are 10-18 cm long by 8-15 cm wide.
The leaves taper towards the tip. The leaf stalk is 20
cm long. The flowers are pea like and purple. They are
2 cm long and produced in upright stalks. The clusters
along the stalks are 25-40 cm long. The fruit are
oblong pods 9 cm long and 1 cm wide. They are
covered with dense rusty hairs. The tuber is shaped
like a cassava root. It can be 60-90 cm long.
Distribution: Wild forms grow between 30 and 1860 m in the tropics. Cultivated forms are
more common in high altitude areas up to 2700 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. It grows in
grassland and on the edge of forests. It suits hardiness zones 5-11.
Cultivation: It is normally grown by stem cuttings. It grows slowly. Plants also grow self-sown
from seed.
Production: The time to maturity is 2-3 years. A tuberous root can be 35 kg weight.
Use: The tuber is cooked and eaten. A kind of flour can also be made from the roots. This is
processed into a thickener for sauces.
The leaves, shoots and flowers can be used as a vegetable.
In India the seeds are boiled and kept in a closed container for about seven days and then
allowed to decompose. A drink is made from it.
Food Value: Per 100 g edible portion
Edible
part
Moisture
%
Energy
KJ
Protein
g
Calcium
mg
Iron
mg
Roots 68.6 2.1 15 0.6
Leaves
Insects:
proVit A
µg
proVit C
mg
Diseases:
False rust Fungus Synchytrium minutum (Pat) Gaum
Yellow mould Fungus Mycovellosiella puerariae D.Shaw & Deighton
Leaf spot
Pests:
Importance: A minor root crop in Papua New Guinea. It is used as a reserve food and for
ceremonies.
Zinc
mg