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Roots and Tubers

Root and tuber crops contain large amounts of starch, which is their chief contribution to the diet. Perennials generally contribute some protein to the diet as well as starch, though this varies among species. Many roots and tubers contain toxic substances or anti-nutritional substances and must be cooked before eating. (See the Technical Note "Introduction to Root Crops" for more information.)

  1. Turnip Brassica rapa var. rapifera

    Turnip, Turnip Greens, Turnip Rape, Field Mustard

    Turnips are a cruciferous crop (cabbage family) grown for the edible fleshy taproot. The leaves are also a good nutritious green leafy vegetable. There are also varieties that have been developed as a forage crop.

  2. Wild Mung Bean Vigna vexillata

    Wild Mung Bean, Zombie Pea, Wild Cowpea

    Wild mung bean is a perennial, vining, nitrogen-fixing plant with edible beans and tubers. This plant is rarely cultivated but rather pods and tubers are collected from wild plants. It has potential for human food, as well as a green manure or cover crop.

  3. Beets Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris

    Beets, Beetroot, Garden Beet

    Garden Beets, also called beetroot, are a hardy, cool-season root crop with edible leaves and a fleshy, tap root. The most common beets are deep red throughout but there are varieties that are yellow, white or mixed. The roots are a source of calories and the leaves are a good source of fiber and...

  4. Carrot Daucus carota var. sativus

    Carrot

    Carrots have a swollen taproot that can be up to 25 cm long. This is generally a temperateor high altitude tropical cropand is biennial. But the variety ‘Uberlandia’ does well in the lower tropics and can set seed in the same season. Carrot rootstaste best when harvested in cooler weather.

  5. High Carotene Carrot Daucus carota var. sativus ‘ Beta III’

    High Carotene Carrot, Beta Iii

    Wild carrots (Daucus carota) are native in Western Europe, the Near East, and the Mediterranean region. Wild carrots now are widely distributed in temperate Europe, Asia, and in parts of Africa, Australia, and the Americas. It has become a common weed species in croplands in many portions of its...

  6. Jicama Pachyrhizus erosus

    Jicama, Yam Bean

    Jicama is a perennialnitrogen-fixing vine thatreaches10 m in lengthand is grown for the edible tuber. Jicama is also used as fodder, green manure, or cover crop.The tuber is edible and is mainly a starch/carbohydrate source, relatively low in calories. The leaves and mature beans contain...

  7. Leek Allium ampeloprasum

    Leek, Blue Leek, Great Headed Garlic, Levant Garlic

    Leeks are a close biennial relative of both onion and garlic, but do not form bulbs. Leaves are flat and large, when cooked they are milder in taste than onions, and are mainly used in soups and similar dishes.

  8. Potato Solanum tuberosum

    Potato

    The Potato originally comes from the Andes of South America. It has been cultivated there for centuries. Potatoes can be grown at most latitudes, but tend to get more diseases in hot and humid climates, such as those at low elevation in the tropics. There are around 5,000 varieties of Potatoes in...

  9. Radish Raphanus sativus

    Radish, Daikon Radish

    Radishes are an annual herb with cylindrical roots up to 65 cm long or round roots up to 8 cm in diameter. They are grown for their slightly spicy roots.

  10. Uberlandia Carrot Daucus carota var. sativus

    Uberlandia Carrot

    Most carrot varieties are temperate biennial plants requiring two years to complete the life cycle. Normally, a cold period during the dormant winter season is required for the first year plants to send up flowering stalks that produce flowers and seeds during the second growing season. Dr....

  11. Potato Bean Apios americana

    Apios, Indian potato, Virginia potato, wild bean, bog potato, wild potato, ground nut

    Apios americanais a climbing, perennial vine and a member of the legume (Fabaceae) family. The plant, native to eastern parts of North America, was widely cultivated by Native Americans for its edible tubers and beans. It is a native food plant of eastern North America but it can also grow in the...

  12. Cassava Manihot esculenta

    Manioc

    Cassava can be grown almost anywhere in the tropics, but is very frost-sensitive. Cassava can survive in dry conditions for a very long period of time and still go on to produce a good crop. It can be an extremely heavy yielder.