Escobedia grandiflora

(L.f.) Kuntze

Saffron of Andes

Orobanchaceae Edible: Roots - flavouring 233 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Escobedia grandiflora is a plant in the family Orobanchaceae.

Description

A herb. It grows erect and keeps growing from year to year. The stems are leafy and 60-150 cm long.

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Edible Uses

American communities use the roots as a seasoning, to color food, and as medicine. This species is often confused with turmeric (Curcuma longa), which is an introduced species to the American continent to which it has adapted well. In the industry, it is used to color cheese, margarine, and butter. Popularly, it is used against jaundice, hepatitis, and liver diseases.

Traditional Uses

The dried and ground roots are used for colouring gravies. They are also used for cheeses, butter and margarine.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical places. It is recorded between 1,100-1,500 m above sea level in Costa Rica.

Where It Grows

Andes, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Columbia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, South America, Venezuela,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed.

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the roots.

Other Information

It is a cultivated plant. It is sold in local markets.

Notes

It is a cultivated food plant. Also put in the family Scrophulariaceae.

Synonyms

Buchnera grandiflora L.f.Escobedia brevipes PennellEscobedia curialis (Vell.) PennellEscobedia foliolosa PennellEscobedia longiflora PennellEscobedia parimensis PennellEscobedia reticulata PennellEscobedia scabrifolia Ruiz & Pav.Escobedia scabrifolia var. laevigata J.A.SchmidtEscobedia silvia Steud.Lisianthius longiflorus Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.Micalia grandiflora (L. f.) Raf.Silvia curialis Vell.

Also Known As

Palillo, Raiz de color

References (6)

Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 229 (As Escobedia scabrifolia)
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 294 (As Escobedia scabrifolia)
Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 148 (As Escobedia scabrifolia)
Syst. Veg. 159. 1798 (As Escobedia scabrifolia)
Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 46 (As Escobedia scabrifolia)

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