JICAMA

also called Yam Bean (species Pachyrhizus erosus, or P. tuberosus), leguminous vine native to Mexico and Central and South America, grown for its edible tuberous root. The plant's irregularly globular, brown-skinned tubers are white-fleshed, crisp, and juicy; some varieties (jcama de aqua) have clear juices, and some (jcama de leche) have milky juice. Both types of tubers are mild-flavoured and usually are eaten raw in salads or sprinkled with lime juice and powdered chili peppers as a snack. Jcama can also be cooked. Although the very young seedpods of the plant are sometimes eaten, the mature seeds contain rotenone, a chemical used as an insecticide, and are highly toxic.