Japanese name: ヤーコン Scientific name:Smallanthus sonchifolius
[Overview]
A large perennial 1–3 m tall.
It has spindle-shaped storage roots that resemble tuberous roots like sweet potatoes.
Large storage roots can reach 25 cm in length, 10 cm in diameter and 2 kg in weight.
The skin color of the storage roots varies by cultivar, from white to pinkish to brown.
The stem is cylindrical and hollow.
The leaves are simple and opposite; the lower ones are broadly ovate-halberd-shaped to triangular, the upper ones are ovate-lanceolate, and both surfaces have soft hairs.
The leaf stalks have broad wings.
Yellow to bright orange flower heads bloom at the stem tips.
The flower heads consist of ray flowers and tubular flowers and resemble those of the sunflower; the ray corollas are about 1.2 cm long with shallow 2–3 lobes at the tip.
The fruit is an achene.
[History]
It is thought to have been cultivated in the Andes region since before the common era.
[Uses]
The tuberous storage roots are sweet and eaten.
The tuberous roots and the stems and leaves are used medicinally.
