Mauka

Description

Mirabilis expansa is in the dicot Nyctaginaceae family. It can grow up to one meter in height and is relatively disease resistant. Mauka produces an edible storage root and its top portion contains plenty of edible foliage that develops from the basal shoots.Mauka is a known perennial plant because of the edible part of the collar swells. The stems of Mauka are cylindrical in shape and nodes separate them; from these nodes pairs of leaves arise.The inflorescences are on long slender branches that range from three to six centimeters in length. These branches are covered with hairs that are constantly trapping small insects.Flower colour is different depending on geographical location. In Bolivia the flowers are purple and in Ecuador they are purple and white.The stems underground are a salmon-pink colour and are smooth and fleshy. They are up to 50 cm (20 in) long and 5 cm (2 in) wide. Mature mauka roots have been seen to reach the length and diameter of a human forearm.