ulluco
Ullucus tuberosus Caldas
Ullucus tuberosus, known as ulluco, is a species in the Basellaceae family. It is cultivated mainly as a root vegetable and secondarily as a leaf vegetable. The plant is native to regions including Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Nariño, Putumayo, Ecuador, Argentina Northwest, Bolivia, Chile North, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, with records from Manizales. The name originates from the Quechua word ulluku, though regional variations include names like illaco, melloco, chungua, ruba, olluco, papa lisa, and ulluma.
Description
Ullucus tuberosus is a flowering plant in the genus Ullucus, part of the Basellaceae family. It is primarily grown for its tubers and also for its leaves. The species was first described in 1809 by Caldas. It is found across several South American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as specific regions like Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Nariño, and Putumayo. The name 'ulluco' is derived from the Quechua word 'ulluku,' though it is known by various local names depending on the region, such as illaco, melloco, chungua, ruba, olluco, papa lisa, and ulluma.
Other common names
ulluco
Distribution
Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Nariño, Putumayo · EC · Argentina Northwest · Bolivia · Chile North · Colombia · Ecuador · Peru · Venezuela · Manizales
Synonyms
Ullucus tuberosus subsp. aborigineusUllucus aborigineusUllucus tuberosus f. albiflorusUllucus tuberosus f. rubriflorusUllucus kunthiiBasella tuberosaMelloca peruvianaMelloca tuberosaUllucus tuberosus subsp. tuberosusGandola tuberosaChenopodium tuberosumUllucus tuberosus f. rubrifiorusUllucus aboriginus