Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme

NTFP Product Database

Product Details

Singkamas PRODUCT NAME

Pachyrrhizus erosus L. SCIENTIFIC NAME

Common Name: Singkamas
Local Name: Hingkamas (Cavite); Kamah (Zambales); Kamas (Ilocos Norte and Sur, Abra, Pangasinan); Lakamas (Pangasinan); Sikamas (Pampanga); Sinkamas, Singkamas (Ilocos Norte and Sur, Cgayan, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal, Manila, Laguna, Tayabas, Cavite, Batangas, Camarines, Albay, Mindoro, Capiz); Tikamas (Cuyo Is.).
Family: Leguminosae
Other Species of Same Genera:
Product Description: A rather coarse, somewhat hairy, herbaceous vine. The leaves are compound with 3 leaflets, which are up to 15cm in length and 20cm in width. The flowers are pale blue or and white, 2-2.5cm long, and borne in racemes which are up to 45cm in length. The pods are about 10cm long, 10-12mm wide, flat, hairy, and contain from 8-10 seeds. The roots are large, fleshy, and turnip-shaped
NTFP Classification: Food and food ingredients (plant-derived)

DISTRIBUTION

Countries Found: Philippines
Description: This species is a native of tropical America, but is now widely distributed in the tropics. It is thoroughly naturalized in the Philippines and is common in tickets

USES AND PARTS USED

Parts Used: fruits roots
Uses: The young fruit is sometimes eaten as a vegetable The tuber is eaten raw or prepared in a variety of ways
Origin:
Management Practices: It is extensively cultivated
Market Information:
Partners: Bureau of Forestry, Philippines

PARTNERS INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES CONCERNING THIS NTFP

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